After a successful 13-year run that included four championships and an unstoppable pedigree, it's hard to imagine Klay Thompson playing for any team other than the Golden State Warriors.
And yet here we are, with Thompson signing a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.
But how did we go from Thompson and the Warriors being a match made in heaven to a divorce that once seemed unthinkable?
Let's analyze how this whole thing fell apart.
Of course, the main issue here is money. Simply put, Thompson is nowhere near the player he once was, so the Warriors were reluctant to give him a big contract.
This really rubbed Thompson the wrong way, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.
“I know personally that Klay [Thompson] “He's so disappointed with where the negotiations have gone, that he's looking elsewhere,” Haynes said on NBA TV before Thompson signed with Dallas.
“… I believe the Warriors probably offered him a minimum contract of $20 million a year. Is he willing to give it up because he feels disrespected? It looks like he is.”
We'll never know if Thompson was in denial about his diminishing abilities or if he believed he deserved a big payday based on his past accomplishments. Either way, the result was the same: an angry Klay Thompson who was determined to pack his bags, which is exactly what he did.
Aside from the financial side, the Warriors were planning to bring Thompson off the bench when he returns next season. according to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer.
At this point, it's clear that Thompson would consider this an additional slap in the face.
But there was another factor at play here as well. According to San Francisco-based reporter, Jason Dumas of KRON4 News, Thompson could be as successful as Draymond Green,
“Three years ago, I know Draymond punched people and was suspended in court… but Klay was just as boring behind the scenes. It's not that loud,” said Jason Dumas on 95.7 The Game.
“… It's not that loud because you're not the one stepping on someone's chest. If he's throwing things off the bench and he's angry, and he's doing it on the court, how do you think it's done? What do you think it's like in the locker room? It was uncomfortable – it happened. It doesn't come out as high as Draymond Green.”
Finally, Thompson landed in a good spot with the Mavericks, a team that just earned a trip to the playoffs. On the other hand, the Warriors are in a very difficult situation.
The only assets they received in exchange for Thompson were two second-round picks, and they gave away Chris Paul for free. Golden State reportedly pursued Paul George but missed out when the Clippers rejected their separate trade, and are now looking to pursue Lauri Markkanen, according to multiple reports.
If the Warriors make a mistake in their negotiations for Markkanen, next season could be quite a long one.
READ MORE: Tensions Grow Between Klay Thompson and Warriors Owner
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