Klay Thompson wasn’t the answer to Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Finals meltdown
Coming off a trip to the NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks went out and got Klay Thompson as their major offseason addition. While he was once a foundational piece for a dynasty, there are major question marks about him being a significant boost for this Western Conference contender.
Numbers-wise, Thompson put together a solid campaign in 2024. He played in 77 games for the Golden State Warriors and averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Thompson also had his worst three-point shooting season, but still shot a respectable 38.7% on nine attempts per game.
Thompson has shown he's still durable after losing two seasons to injury, but he saw some of the lowest lows of his career in 2024. Things got so rocky for him that Steve Kerr was forced to bring him off the bench for a brief stretch.
One thing Klay Thompson has going for him is that the Mavericks play a much different style of basketball. Playing alongside a pair of dynamic guards in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving should make life simple for him offensively. That said, there are still concerns that he is a piece that can put Dallas over the top.
Klay Thompson's added firepower comes with defensive concerns
With the addition of Klay Thompson, the Mavericks have an offensive-minded trio loaded with firepower. Scoring points certainly shouldn't be an issue, but it's the other end of the floor that could be a major concern.
At his peak, Thompson was arguably the top two-way shooting guard in the league. Now, he is an average defender at best. On top of this, he'll be moved to small forward with Doncic and Irving taking up the two guard spots.
This season, the Western Conference is expected to be as competitive as it has ever been. There will be few off nights, and teams are going to need to be able to defend if they want to win at a high level. This raises the question of whether the Mavericks' firepower will be enough to overcome their defensive shortcomings.
PJ Washington will likely be tasked with guarding the top perimeter option, and then next up is Thompson. Because of his workload on the offensive end, Doncic will likely be put on the weakest offensive option on the floor.
The Mavs' primary hope of being even an average defensive team is Dereck Lively becoming a high-level rim protector in Year 2.
Last postseason, the Mavericks were a top-five team in defensive rating at 110.7. If they want any chance at getting back to the finals, they'll need to have similar success on that end of the floor.
Depending on how Klay Thompson is able to defend in 2025, Dallas might have their hands full against teams like the OKC Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Will Klay Thompson be able to close games for the Mavericks?
As stated above, defense is going to be a major area of focus for the Mavericks as they look to get back to the final next season. Because of all the reasons laid out, the question needs to be asked:
Can Klay Thompson really be viewed as an over-the-top acquisition when he might not even be able to close games for the Mavericks?
Heading into next season, Dallas likely has four of the five spots in their closing lineup locked in. Doncic and Irving will be out there running the offensive. Lively will anchor the front line and Washington will look to provide two-way play on the wing. This leaves one spot open for Thompson to potentially claim.
Klay Thompson will likely get a crack at finishing games for his gravity alone. Even with his shooting numbers taking a dip, he still has a strong reputation around the league. Defenders are going to think twice before sagging off him, which could give Doncic or Irving the time they need to operate.
Thompson's ability to close games will solely depend on whether the Mavericks will be able to get stops. Scoring on offense won't mean much if the opponent is coming right back down and getting the points back. In the event Thompson can't close games, Jason Kidd will likely call upon Zeke Naji for that fifth spot.
Dallas brought Thompson for his fit and championship experience. If he can't be out on the floor when the game matters most, it's tough to consider him the answer to their Finals woes.