By james art Could Klay Thompson have earned a much bigger contract this past offseason?
Last offseason, Klay Thompson decided to let go of the Golden State Warriors and the dynasty he was a crucial part of in exchange for a change of scenery. It was overdue as it looked like the Warriors wouldn’t be able to contend for a title again with their core.
Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million contract. The Warriors and Mavericks facilitated a three-team sign-and-trade to land the elite shooter in DFW.
However, the experiment with Thompson along with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving has looked solid with early returns in the new season.
However, is it possible that Thompson received a bigger contract this past offseason?
Gilbert Arenas explains why Thompson hasn’t signed a bigger contract
Thompson won four championships while being considered one of the best shooters in NBA history. However, the discourse surrounding Thompson last season and this offseason was absurd given how much success he had around the league. He underwent two major surgeries, but is still a productive player who won a championship just a few years ago.
Gilbert Arenas took to “Gil’s Arena” to voice his opinion on Thompson.
“I feel bad for Klay … If you take his name out of his stats, they all line up … $30-$40 million a year,” Arenas said. “Buddy Hield is playing very well right now. If he had that stat, you’d all give him $120 million. When you really want to make someone irrelevant, you watch what you want to watch.
As the salary cap continues to rise, players who average around 20 points per game while proving incredible floor space are being signed to big contracts.
According to Arenas, the narrative surrounding Thompson and his name is the only reason he hasn’t signed a big contract.
Thompson can help lead the Mavericks to a championship
While the financial aspect of Thompson’s move to the Mavericks is certainly important, the fit on the court and the narrative are also important. He may leave the Bay Area — and the West Coast in general — in favor of a large Dallas market.
Now, with a new fan base, Thompson is loved and his play is expected, which was no longer the case with Golden State.
With Doncic and Irving running the show, Thompson can reap the benefits of an all-star duo. He gets high-quality 3-point attempts that are given to him with the gravity of his teammates.
The Mavericks were in the NBA Finals just a season ago and made a key addition with the shooting wing. Thompson will be able to thrive in a newer role as well, as the grass may just be greener in Dallas at this point in his career.
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