Klay Thompson Can Take Luka Dončić, Mavericks 'Over the Top', GM Nico Harrison Says

After losing the 2024 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics, the Dallas Mavericks feel they found the missing piece to their title hopes by adding veteran shooting guard Klay Thompson this offseason.

"Honestly, after the Finals, we felt that we were close. ... I kind of say this, it has a good ring to it, but we were a Klay away. We feel like he's a guy that can take us over the top," Mavs general manager Nico Harrison told Zach Harper of SiriusXM NBA Radio.

In the NBA Finals against Boston, Dallas was doomed by subpar three-point shooting and a lack of a consistent third scorer behind the star duo of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. Thompson, who joined the Mavs on a sign-and-trade from the Golden State Warriors, is expected to make up for both of those deficiencies.

The 34-year-old helped lead the Warriors to four NBA championships during his tenure with the team since being drafted 11th overall in 2011. He is one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time and was once one of the best two-way guards in the NBA before injuries caused him to decline.

Thompson's final year in Golden State was mired by frustration, as he struggled to produce consistently and eventually fell out of head coach Steve Kerr's rotation. He chose to join Dallas so he could enjoy a bigger role on a team that values him as a key contributor.

For Thompson to take the Mavs over the top, he will need to do what he's done best over the course of his career as an efficient three-point shooter. However, in Monday's 110-96 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, he went scoreless after shooting 0-of-9 from the field and 0-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Thompson will need to be better when the Mavs open the 2024-25 season on Oct. 24 against the San Antonio Spurs.