Free agent Klay Thompson plans to join the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, ending his historic run with the Golden State Warriors after 13 seasons.
Thompson’s move to Dallas comes as part of a multiteam sign-and-trade that will also send Mavericks guard Josh Green to Charlotte, sources said. The Mavericks and Warriors are still working through details of the deal, which will also include the Hornets sending Dallas two second-round picks for Green. One of those picks could end up in Golden State, a source said.
Thompson had four-year offers for more money, but taking less was offset by the chance to win a fifth championship with the Mavs as well as the difference in state taxes.
Thompson, 34, is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and formed what unequivocally was the best shooting backcourt in the history of the sport alongside Stephen Curry. A five-time All-Star, Thompson played a key role on all four NBA title teams for Golden State over the past decade and has had several legendary postseason performances for the Warriors over their dynastic run.
Before hitting free agency, Thompson was the second-longest-tenured player with his current team (since 2011), behind only Curry.
Thompson leaves behind a legacy of winning in Golden State; the trio of Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green accounted for 518 wins in the regular season and playoffs, sixth most by a trio all time. Their 98 playoff wins together rank third in NBA history and their four titles are tied with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker for the most by an All-NBA trio over the past 50 seasons.
Thompson averaged 17.9 points and shot 38.7% from 3-point range on nine attempts per game this past year while coming off the bench in 14 games for the first time since his rookie year. He admitted during the season that the reduced role was hard to deal with, although he did seem to thrive in it — posting better numbers on better efficiency when coming off the bench.
Thompson recovered from missing two entire seasons with a torn ACL and then a torn Achilles tendon to again become a productive player each of the past three seasons, including playing 77 games this past year. He remains an elite shooter, making 219 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season — second most in the NBA.
ESPN Stats & Information research and Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.