Luka Dončić misses Klay Thompson and Mavericks ready to win title amid NBA rumors

The Dallas Mavericks advanced to the NBA Finals last season after a memorable playoff run that saw them defeat the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Clippers, the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder and the Timberwolves from Minnesota, in great shape.

Things may not have gone the way the team wanted, losing in five games to the champion Boston Celtics, but the organization appears ready to add pieces to the puzzle in hopes of getting back into the game next season while simultaneously maximizing the best of star Luka Dončić.

Marc Stein said there is “strong mutual interest” between the team and unrestricted free agent Klay Thompson.

Thompson isn't the defender he once was, but he's still above average and brings experience on that side of the ball to a Mavericks team that ranked sixth in defense in the regular season and second in the playoffs.

The future Hall of Famer would also bolster the team's shooting from beyond the arc.

In 2023-24, the Mavericks have averaged 36.9% from three-point range. Thompson, one of the best shooters of his generation, finished what was considered a “down” season shooting 38.7 percent.

He may not be the player he was at the height of the Warriors' dynastic success, but Thompson still has plenty to offer a team looking to improve its shooting and add quality defense.

Thompson averaged 17.8 points per game in 29.7 minutes per game. His 43.2% percentage in the paint was comparable to his previous three seasons, suggesting that rumors of his demise as an effective player in the league were premature.

Adding him to a team that already has Dončić and Kyrie Irving, one series win away from the Larry O'Brien Trophy, would give the Mavs a boost on both sides of the ball and, more importantly, introduce the locker room to a player who has four NBA titles to his name and the unquenchable thirst to add another one to his resume.

It's a costly trade for the Mavericks, but it should provide an upgrade over Tim Hardaway Jr. and bolster a team that was already good enough to emerge from a deep Western Conference.