"He's going to be guaranteed whatever" - NBA insider says Klay Thompson will be starting for Mavs with maximum minutes
Klay Thompson was one of the biggest names in free agency this offseason, leaving the Golden State Warriors to sign with the Dallas Mavericks. An NBA insider has said that Thompson will be a starter for the Mavs and will get the minutes that he wants.
On "The OG Show" with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, Shams Charania of The Athletic revealed Dallas' plans for the four-time NBA champion. Thompson will be in the starting lineup and should get around 28-30 minutes of playing time every night.
"He will be the guaranteed starter there. He's going to be guaranteed whatever it is, 28-30 plus minutes a night. I think that was very important for Klay, playing the minutes he wants to play," Charania said.
Shams Charania was one of the first to report Klay Thompson's departure from the Golden State Warriors. Thompson had a tumultuous relationship with the franchise in his final season, wherein there was discontent, and the other half of the "Splash Brothers" felt disrespected.
The 34-year-old is no longer the player he used to be, especially on defense. But he's exactly what the Dallas Mavericks need – shooting. He's one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, and a fresh start could revitalize him heading into the new season.
It also helps that he will be playing with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who could find him anywhere on the floor. The two superstars should also ensure a few open looks for Thompson next season.
Why did Klay Thompson leave the Golden State Warriors?
Klay Thompson spent the first 13 years of his career with the Golden State Warriors, winning four NBA championships and forming the greatest shooting duo in history with Steph Curry. However, Thompson left the Warriors in free agency to sign with the Dallas Mavericks.
Thompson signed a three-year, $50 million contract to team up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. But why did he leave Golden State? It was not about the money but a matter of principle, according to Shams Charania.
"That one has a lot to do with principle. I think that one has to do with how he felt with the organization over the last couple of years. When you're someone who brought four championships there ... And then you see (Andrew) Wiggins get a four-year extension, Jordan Poole get a four-year extension, you see Draymond Green get a four-year extension.
"Then it's your turn and the Warriors look at the marketplace, and they offer him two years, 48 (million)," Charania said on 'The OG Show.' [20:32 - 21:05]
It really wasn't about the money, considering the Warriors offered Thompson a two-year, $48 million deal, and he chose to sign a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavs.