Klay Thompson decided to leave the Golden State Warriors before free agency even started.
Joe Lacob, the team’s owner, shared how negotiations with Klay went in an interview with Tim Kawakami from The Athletic. Lacob said, “But you know, to be frank and honest, Klay made the decision prior to the beginning of free agency,” adding that Klay told him he needed a fresh start for various reasons.
Lacob mentioned that they offered Klay more money than what he signed for with the Mavericks. He believed it was a fair offer and wanted Klay to stay a Warrior for life. However, things didn’t work out as planned .
Warriors’ New Look:
The long negotiation process might have pushed Klay away. Last season, he averaged 17.9 points per gameโthe lowest since his second year when he scored 16.6 points per game in 2012-13.
Fans might think this change is both surprising and sad at the same time.
Now, it’ll be intriguing to see how things unfold with Klay wearing a different jersey for the first time ever. The Warriors have added Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson this offseason. These new players will have significant roles now that Klay is part of the Dallas Mavericks.
What do you think about all these changes?
