Klay Thompson’s decision to leave the Warriors wasn’t an easy one.
The veteran guard agreed to sign a reported three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, ending his 13-year career with Golden State. But his departure from the only organization he knew in the NBA has not been without difficult conversations.
One of these was with his longtime teammate and fellow Splash Brother, Steph Curry.
Talks with the Warriors were reportedly stalled over the past few weeks leading up to the start of free agency, with Thompson speaking to Curry and urging the star point guard not to pressure the Warriors front office to re-sign Thompson, according to The Athletic Anthony Slater explained in a feature story on Monday.
“This divorce has had a five-year trajectory, unraveling last offseason, imploding first and becoming finalized in the last few weeks, where — league sources reported amid Thompson conversations — Stephen Curry was urged not to use his significant organizational influence and escalate tensions with management to ensure Thompson’s return,” Slater wrote. “Curry’s balanced voice, even if it alters the outcome, will not change Lacob’s reality and the front office’s true desire to bring Thompson back.”
It appears his wish came true, as the Warriors have had very little contact with Thompson and his representatives over the past few weeks.
And now Thompson is gone.
Curry has great organizational clout and is often called upon by the front office to sign big moves, including Golden State’s failed pursuit of star forward Paul George, which both he and longtime teammate Draymond Green agreed to before George opted out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and reportedly agreed to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Thompson made this difficult decision alone and will now team up with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Western Conference-rival Mavericks, where he will face Curry and the Warriors at least three times during the 2024-25 NBA season.
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