Mavericks' trade for Kyrie Irving looks even better after Klay Thompson signing
By Noah Weber
![Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4919,h_2766,x_0,y_128/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/83/01j1qxwwksxw4r72bvjd.jpg)
At the 2023 NBA trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks shocked the world by trading for Kyrie Irving. Dallas has been searching for a co-star for Luka Doncic, and they found one in Irving while also acquiring him for a great price.
Regardless of the first-year struggles Irving and Doncic encountered, this duo turned into one of the best duos in the NBA and just led the Mavs to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011.
Irving has silenced all the doubters with his performance on the floor, and the Mavs' trade for Irving looks even better now after the Mavs signed Klay Thompson to a three-year, $50 million deal.
The Mavs acquired Thompson in a multi-team sign and trade with the Charlotte Hornets and Golden State Warriors involved while sending Josh Green to Charlotte.
Kyrie Irving turned his acquisition into a 2-for-1
Now Irving and Doncic have a third star to play with them in Thompson, and the Irving trade looks even better now because he helped recruit Thompson to Dallas according to NBA insider Marc Stein. One of the reasons Dallas traded for Irving was to help recruit free agents to the Mavs, and this trade keeps getting better and better for the Mavs.
Irving has morphed into an outstanding leader in Dallas, and he and Doncic's relationship continues to grow. Him helping recruit Thompson to the Mavs shows that he is still highly regarded by his peers in the NBA, and he is making his impact felt on and off the floor.
Last season for the Warriors, Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.6 steals per game while shooting 38.7 percent from downtown. Thompson's shooting fills a hole that the Mavs desperately needed to be filled, and that will help the Mavs overcome their biggest weakness from the Finals that ultimately ended up hurting them in the end.
The Mavericks were looking to improve their shooting this offseason, and that's exactly what this move does for them. Irving came up huge for the Mavs by helping them recruit Thompson and being part of the reason that he chose the Mavs, and Irving will help Thompson as he pursues his fifth NBA Championship in Dallas.
For all the latest on Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, stay tuned as we'll have you covered.
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