Everyone is eager to see Klay Thompson on a parquet floor under the colors of the Mavericks. At his side, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to form a trio as complementary as it is prolific with a potential of 70 points per game! After 13 years with the Warriors, and a final season marked by a stint on the bench, the “Splash Brother” needed a fresh start, and Steve Kerr felt it during the season
“There were signs”, recognizes the Warriors coach about the departure of his shooter. “Obviously none of us knew what was going to happen, but we all wanted him to stay. I wanted Klay to be a Warrior for life, it was the best thing to do.”
Two creators to enjoy open shoots
But management wasn't willing to break the bank for a 34-year-old who's no longer an All-Star. The Mavericks saw an opening, and Thompson agreed to a three-year, $50 million deal. It wasn't the best offer they'd received, but it was probably the most balanced between the athletic and financial sides. “You never really know what’s best for someone else, only that person knows…”Kerr continues. “And I think by the end of the season, Klay knew, for his own good, that he wanted out.”
A choice that Kerr willingly accepts on a human level, and ultimately on a sporting level. He knows that his former shooter will be perfectly surrounded by the Mavericks. “I'm happy for him, and I think it will be a very good choice.”concludes the Team USA coach. “He's going to play for a great team, and with two top-level creators [Luka Doncic et Kyrie Irving]he should get a lot of open shots. I think sometimes a career change, a late-career change can refresh you and rejuvenate you.”
