Why did Klay Thompson turn down more money from other NBA teams to join the Mavericks?

After 13 years, Klay Thompson is leaving the Golden State Warriors, with the Dallas Mavericks moving to sign the four-time NBA champion after he had entered free agency. The Mavs’ Josh Green looks set join the Charlotte Hornets as part of a multi-team sign-and-trade deal, although that has yet to be finalised.

How much will Thompson earn with the Mavericks?

According to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the 34-year-old is expected to join Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas on a three-year, $50 million deal with a player option, which wasn’t the most lucrative offer on the table.

Earlier this week, The Athletic had claimed the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers were also interested in taking Thompson in addition to the Mavs, with Wojnarowski reporting the shooting guard had opted to turn down other four-year offers worth more money.

The five-time NBA All-Star had reportedly rejected a two-year, $48 million deal to stay with the Warriors last offseason, leading to him entering free agency.

Why has Thompson agreed to a less lucrative deal with the Mavs?

Thompson’s decision to accept a less attractive deal, financially speaking, is said to be down to lower state taxes, as well as his belief that he has the best chance of winning his fifth NBA Championship with the Mavs, who were beaten by the Boston Celtics in the 2024 Finals.

Dallas significantly outperformed the Warriors in the 2023/24 NBA season, finishing 5th in the Western Conference, five places better off. While Steph Curry and Co were comfortably beaten in the first round of the play-in tournament, the Mavs beat the Clippers, the Thunder and the Timberwolves to reach the NBA Finals, where they lost 4-1 to the all-conquering Celtics.

Thompson, who won the NBA Championship with the Warriors in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022, averaged 17.9 points per game last season, his lowest return since 2012/13, his second season with the Warriors.