The longest part of the NBA offseason has arrived as the Olympics are officially over and training camp is still a month and a half away.
Most of the league’s free agents have already signed with their new teams and fans are on edge for the season to begin in late October. Dallas Mavericks fans in particular are eager for next season to begin and they are on the verge of becoming a top team in the Western Conference once again.
Dallas has made moves to improve its roster around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, such as trading for Quentin Grimes and signing Naji Marshall, but their biggest move came just days into the offseason when they made a Klay Thompson Signs and Trades.
Dallas needed more shots hurting after a poor 3-point performance in the NBA Finals, and they went looking for the best shooter on the market.
Last season with the Golden State Warriors, Thompson averaged 17.9 points per game on 38.7 percent from three-point range, and while his numbers look great (even after a down year), it’s his new teammate Doncic’s numbers that show why he’s the perfect fit in Dallas.
According to BBall Index, Doncic led the NBA in ball gravity. That means teams try to stop Doncic when he has the ball in his hands more than anyone else in the NBA. Teams often double-team him, and when Doncic has the ball, the defense is all over him.
With the opposing team’s focus primarily on Doncic, Thompson will thrive off the ball. Thompson has been an elite off-ball player throughout his career, and now that he’s playing with Doncic, he’ll have more chances to shine than ever.
The Mavericks are also planning different projects and ‘Creative’ ways to involve Thompson in their offense next year, and the possibilities are endless as to how they will use him. Doncic is one of the best passers in the NBA, and whenever Thompson is open, Doncic will find him.
While all eyes will be on the Doncic-Irving duo next year, there’s also the Doncic-Thompson duo and the Doncic-Irving-Thompson trio to talk about. The game is going to get a lot easier for Thompson since most of the opposing team’s defense is going to be focused on Doncic, and the second they give Thompson a few inches, Doncic is going to find him.
