Golden State Warriors head coach Steven Kerr feels veteran Klay Thompson made the right call in moving to NBA finalists, Dallas Mavericks. As reported earlier, Thompson has agreed to a three-year, $50 million deal the Mavs.
Thompson, 34, averaged 17.9 points in the last edition, his lowest since 2012-13 but he will be determined to prove his mettle for the Mavericks and clinch his fifth NBA ring.
As part of the deal, the Mavericks will need to send their guard/forward Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets and two second-round picks to the Warriors.
Thompson played for the Dubs for 13 years and savored great success with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, registering 518 wins with the duo in the regular season and playoffs.
“What he did for the team, the organization, for the Bay Area, for me personally — the relationship that we had, all the incredible success but more importantly just going through it all together, it has been so meaningful and so amazing,” said Kerr, who coached Thompson for 10 of his 13 seasons with Golden State.
“We are going to miss Klay. We wish him the best. These things rarely go like you want where you get to draw it up and execute it and everybody goes out together. We were hoping that could happen, but it didn’t. We wish Klay well, but we love him and we’ll miss him.”
Thompson suffered a fatal knee injury and had to spend almost three years on the sidelines. Kerr admitted it is never easy to bounce back after such career-threatening injuries but was glad that Thompson showed all the fight.
“That’s really my job as a coach, is to help him,” Kerr said. “I think that’s really been the toughest thing for Klay, dealing with the injuries and the aftermath. Two years, to be out two straight years with career-threatening injuries. Prior to that Klay … He didn’t need a lot of counsel. The last couple of years, he’s needed it because this has been so tough for him. I’m amazed at his ability to come back from those injuries, to help us win another championship, to play at the level he’s played at.”
Kerr also feels Thompson made the right call to move to the Dallas Mavericks.
“I think it makes sense for him in his heart to get a different change of pace, change of location,” Kerr said. “Get out of California, go play on a different team. It’s what’s right for him right now.”
