NBA
What did the Lakers offer the Warriors for Klay Thompson?
Thompson is leaving the Golden State Warriors after 13 years and four NBA titles, with the veteran poised to sign with the Dallas Mavericks.
Klay Thompson is set to join the Dallas Mavericks after it was confirmed that he is leaving the Golden State Warriors, bringing an end to an illustrious, 13-season spell with the California franchise.
The 34-year-old has reportedly agreed a three-year, $50 million deal to play for the Mavericks.
What did the Lakers offer Thompson and the Warriors?
Dallas weren’t the only team chasing Thompson’s services. He was also a target for LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers, who pushed hard to lure the five-time NBA All-Star to Crypto.com Arena.
According to the NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Lakers offered D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors as part of a sign-and-trade deal, but Golden State rejected the proposal. Per the Bleacher Report journalist, Los Angeles were ready to pay Thompson $20 million a year.
It has also been reported that the Lakers’ offer to Thompson would have been worth more overall than the contract given to him by the Mavericks. Lakers Daily’s Anthony Irwin has reported that the 17-time NBA champions were willing to give the California native a four-year deal worth $80 million.
Thompson a repeated NBA champion with the Warriors
Thompson, who was drafted by the Warriors in 2011, leaves the franchise after playing a central role in the creation of the NBA’s most recent dynasty. Together with fellow Golden State stars such as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, he led the team to six NBA Finals appearances and four championships between 2015 and 2022.
Thompson departs the Warriors after an unsuccessful campaign in which Steve Kerr’s team failed to make the NBA Playoffs.
In his final season at Chase Center, he averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, shooting 43.2% overall and 38.7% on three-pointers.
Warriors: Thompson “legacy will live on forever”
In a statement on Thompson’s Warriors departure yesterday, Golden State lauded the player’s “incredible and legendary contributions” to the franchise, adding: “Klay’s legacy will live on forever and we look forward to the day we can retire his #11 jersey at Chase Center, where he will join a host of Warriors immortals, including those who helped shape this recent dynasty - himself included.”