Klay Thompson. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Is Klay Thompson the missing piece for the Mavericks?

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Jul 15, 2024 8:09 AM ET

The Dallas Mavericks were crowned Western Conference champions last season before falling to the Boston Celtics in a five-game NBA Finals series.

The team then made a splash this offseason in an attempt to get over the hump when it acquired five-time All-Star Klay Thompson as part of a six-team sign-and-trade. The sharpshooter then signed a three-year, $50M deal with the Mavs.

During a recent appearance on Sirius XM NBA Radio, Mavericks President of Basketball Operations Nico Harrison confirmed that Dallas saw Thompson as their missing piece.

"After we went through the Finals, we saw what we were missing," Harrison said. "We knew what we needed, and obviously, he saw the same thing. So, I think it's a great fit."

“We saw what we were missing”#Mavericks president of basketball operations Nico Harrison on what went into bringing in Klay Thompson in his conversation with @TermineRadio and @tomcrean at #NBA2KSummerLeague.#MFFL pic.twitter.com/2iL1z0vzBl
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 14, 2024

Thompson, 34, is a career 41.3% shooter from beyond the arc. His presence will provide much-needed floor spacing for the Mavericks, giving Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving additional room to operate in the half-court. Opposing defenses will have a more challenging time sending double-teams toward Dallas' star guard pairing.

Furthermore, Thompson brings a championship mentality to Dallas. He joins Irving as a former champion on the roster and can provide veteran leadership —both in the locker room and on the court. Still, Jason Kidd must find a way to get the best out of Thompson.

He has lost some of his lateral quickness and ability to create separation. However, he is still an elite scorer and possesses immense shooting gravity.

Thompson needed a fresh start after his 13-year tenure with the Warriors. Dallas needed additional floor spacing, especially if it wished to continue improving the impressive Dereck Lively II. On paper, the fit between Thompson and Dallas makes perfect sense.

Only time will tell if that fit translates onto the basketball court and elevates the Mavericks into the favorites in the West.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

More must-reads: