Klay Thompson used to be one of the best two-way players in the NBA. That’s no longer the case, as injuries and Father Time have conspired to diminish his abilities. He is still a solid addition to the Dallas Mavericks, but there are questions about how much he can really contribute to his new team, especially on the defensive side of the court.
If there’s another similarity to Hardaway, it’s in Thompson’s declining defense. That poses a risk, particularly if he starts, which was something Thompson desired as he made his free-agency decision, according to one league source granted anonymity to speak freely.
The Dallas Mavericks know what they’re going to get from Klay Thompson
That being said, the Mavericks certainly know that the version of Thompson they now have is not the player he once was before he suffered those serious injuries. He may be more of a liability on defense these days, but he still knows how to get buckets, and that’s largely the reason behind their desire to acquire him. Last season, Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from behind the arc.
The Mavericks’ lack of perimeter threat alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving was very much exposed in their NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics, but with Thompson, they should improve considerably on that area.
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