The Mavericks saw their title hopes dashed due to a lack of supporting players alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving who were capable of consistently hitting 3s. They immediately solved that problem by adding Klay Thompson.
Thompson will join the Mavericks as part of a multi-team sign-and-trade that will also send Josh Green to Charlotte, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The full details of the trade are reportedly still being worked on.
How does it look for all of the teams involved? Here are our instant grades.
MORE: Full details of Klay Thompson to Mavericks trade
Mavericks trade grade
The Mavericks came into the summer looking like they wouldn’t have many avenues to improve their team. They didn’t have cap space, and they only had the $ 5 million taxpayer mid-level exception at their disposal.
Rather than settling for that piddling chump change, they got creative. They offloaded Tim Hardaway Jr.’s salary along with picks in exchange for Quentin Grimes, creating a trade exception that could bring Thompson in.
Thompson isn’t the player that he was before his string of injuries a few years ago. Once a plus defender, he can only guard slower forwards now. And when tasked with too much of an offensive role, he shot the Warriors out of some games.
This is going to be the perfect role for him in the final stage of his career. He’s still a lethal movement shooter, and he will get the best looks that he’s had in a while playing next to Doncic and Irving. It’s reasonable to think that he should improve from the 38.7 percent from deep that he hit last season.
Thompson’s $ 50 million over three years represents a sizeable pay cut from the $ 40.6 million that he earned last season with the Warriors. He will be earning less than average starter money in Dallas. That is a bargain for the Mavericks, and their ingenuity in finding a way to acquire him deserves a high grade.
Mavericks grade: A-
Hornets trade grade
The Mavericks needed to send some salary out to make this trade legal. They had hard-capped themselves at $ 178 million in payroll after signing Naji Marshall. The Hornets were able to get this deal across the finish line by taking in the No. 18 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft in Green.
Green looked like he might be on the path toward draft bust early in his career. He has become a good 3-point shooter, though, hitting 38.5 percent from deep last season. He’s also a try-hard defender who makes heady plays. He’s the type of young two-way prospect that the Hornets should be targeting.
This was a nice piece of business for Charlotte.
Hornets grade: A-
Warriors trade grade
This is a sad end to the dynasty for the Warriors, but it’s tough to blame them for wanting to control their outrageous tax bill. They paid $ 177 million in luxury tax payments last season only to miss the playoffs completely. Getting something for Thompson on the way out was the most realistic best-case outcome that could have happened.
The exact compensation for the Warriors has yet to be determined, but they are not looking to take salary back, per Substack’s Marc Stein.
Golden State’s grade will be updated when the full package comes out.
Warriors grade: Incomplete
