After losing to the Boston Celtics in a one-sided 2024 NBA Finals series, the Dallas Mavericks knew they had to make a move in the offseason. And here they are, enjoying the moment after pulling off one of the biggest moves in the young NBA free agency, having acquired Klay Thompson via a three-year deal worth $50 million earlier this week.
According to Tim Cato of The Athletic, one move that helped set the gears in motion for the Mavs to get Thompson was the trade that sent Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Detroit Pistons.
It was the Tim Hardaway Jr. trade that created this path for Dallas to acquire Thompson, first financially but also with how Dallas imagines Thompson will fit within this team as a souped-up like-for-like replacement. No player has taken more spot-up 3s than Thompson over the past three years; Hardaway was sixth. But Thompson shot better on those shots, not just more prolifically. There’s a reason he has the sixth-most made 3s in the league’s history.
The Dallas Mavericks added quality perimeter weapons after finals loss
![Dallas Mavericks: The 1 Move That Set The Gears In Motion For Mavs' Klay Thompson Splash 1 May 26, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) with Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) after game five of the 2022 western conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_18365028_168400517_lowres.jpg)
The Mavericks traded Hardaway to the Detroit Pistons along with a 2025 second-round pick (via Toronto) and a pair of 2028 second-round picks plus Quentin Grimes. That transaction is widely viewed as a win for Dallas, as it created a bigger financial legroom for the Mavs while also getting a perimeter weapon with plenty of promise in Grimes.
With Grimes and Thompson on the same boat with the Mavs, Dallas has gotten Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving additional perimeter weapons that they lacked in the Celtics series.
![Dallas Mavericks: The 1 Move That Set The Gears In Motion For Mavs' Klay Thompson Splash 2 Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks news, NBA Finals, Luka Doncic news](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23570203_168400517_lowres.jpg)
![Dallas Mavericks: The 1 Move That Set The Gears In Motion For Mavs' Klay Thompson Splash 3 Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_21930954.jpg)
Last season, Thompson shot 38.1 percent on shots taken in catch-and-shoot situations, while Hardaway made 35.3 percent of his C & S attempts.
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