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By Ricardo Sandoval
Contributing Sports Writer
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After falling short in the 2024 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics in five games, the Dallas Mavericks immediately signed one of the top available free agents via sign-and-trade: four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson. The Mavericks simply didn't have enough to keep up with the juggernaut team that was the 2024 Celtics.
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However, that could have all changed with the signing of Thompson; at least, that's what Mavericks president of basketball operations and general manager Nico Harrison believes. Harrison appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio with Justin Termine and Tom Crean and believes Thompson is the kind of player they were missing this past season.
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"After we went through the Finals, we saw what we were missing," said Harrison. "We knew what we needed, and obviously he [Thompson] saw the same thing, so I think it's a great fit."
The Mavericks had one hell of a season, making their first NBA Finals since 2011, when they last won it. Dallas was spearheaded by its two superstar guards, Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving; however, outside of these two guards, the Mavericks didn't have that knockdown shooter and player who could take some of the attention away from Irving and Dončić. Thompson is set to do just that in Dallas.
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However, Harrison should know that this version of Thompson is not the same Thompson who helped create a dynasty in Golden State. The Thompson of 2024 has suffered two significant lower body injuries, including a torn ACL and an Achilles. This version of Thompson is coming off one of his worst offensive seasons since his early seasons in the NBA, shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three, the second-lowest of his career, averaging 17.9 points per game.
Thompson is just one of the few moves the Mavericks have made thus far which includes trading away sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. and a draft consideration in exchange for guard Quentin Grimes. Harrison was also responsible for signing Brandon Williams to a two-way contract.
Harrison will enter his fourth season as the general manager after the Mavericks rewarded him with a multi-year extension contract days after the team clinched the Western Conference championship over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Overall, Harrison has done a solid job in his front-office role, minus the 2022-23 season. He was responsible for negotiating the 2023 post-draft trade for Dereck Lively II, signing Derrick Jones Jr., and trading for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford.
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