Klay Thompson proclaims he is Mavericks' 'missing piece' for NBA Finals quest

The Dallas Mavericks enter the 2024-25 season following an NBA Finals appearance and an elite offseason.

Dallas addressed their need for more point-of-attack defense which was clear at some points in the playoffs by trading for Quentin Grimes and signing Naji Marshall, and they alleviated their need for more shooting by acquiring Klay Thompson through a six-team trade.

Thompson had been linked to the Mavs since April, and he gives the Mavs an entirely new dimension to their offense as he is one of the greatest shooters to ever touch the hardwood. Dallas had an elite core before the Thompson signing as they have Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II at the epicenter, and adding Thompson to this stacked nucleus makes the Mavs more dangerous than ever before in the Luka era.

Thompson believes he is Mavericks' 'missing piece' for NBA Finals quest

Thompson is focused on winning his fifth ring with the Mavs, and he believes that he is the "missing piece" for Dallas to make another run to the NBA Finals.

Thompson watched the NBA Finals closely and admired the chemistry among the guys. He also envisioned himself being an excellent player for Dallas in the future due to some of his limitations being helped by playing next to Doncic and Irving.

"At this point in my career, I might not be able to run as fast as everyone, or jump as high, but I can still knock down open shots and I think I can be that missing piece for them," Thompson stated during the Hometown Favorites weekend.

Thompson then dove into how the defense already struggles to guard Doncic and Irving, and now they can't send the same double teams their way because he'll be on the backside ready to shoot an open three.

Doncic's on-ball gravity is going to make life like heaven for Thompson, as he is going to be getting the most open looks of his career. Doncic is already one of the greatest passers the game has ever seen, and pairing him with one of the greatest shooters ever will make them a lethal duo when sharing the floor.

While some have feared that Thompson's fit in Dallas is going to take some time, Jason Kidd has expressed full confidence in finding a role for Thompson. Kidd said that "it's easy" when asked about Thompson's role with the Mavs, and Dallas isn't going to overcomplicate things.

Thompson needed a fresh start, and that's exactly what Dallas will provide for him. Irving was a huge help in recruiting Thompson to the Mavs, and we could witness an entire resurgence with Thompson just like we saw with Irving. He has also already gotten the chance to get to know most of his new teammates during a trip to Los Angeles recently, and they spent time together on the water as well as working out on the court.

Thompson is fully confident that the Mavs can "do something special and win a championship" next season, and he was the perfect pickup for Dallas to return to the NBA Finals once again. His shooting is unlike anything Mavs fans have ever witnessed next to Doncic, and they'll be in the hunt to play until June once again.