Oct. 14, 2024 14:19 PM EST

Expectations Soar For Mavs With Addition Of Klay Thompson After Run To Nba Finals

By The Associated Press
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, bottom, falls in front of Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) LM Otero, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, bottom, falls in front of Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
An injured Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, center, looks on from the sidelines as teammate Kyrie Irving, right, walks off during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, left, drives against Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, right, during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, right, drives against Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) looks up from the court during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
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Dallas Mavericks

Last season: 50-32, lost to Boston in NBA Finals.

COACH: Jason Kidd (fifth season with Mavericks, 10th season overall, 323-296).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. San Antonio.

DEPARTURES: F Derrick Jones Jr., G Josh Green, G Tim Hardaway Jr.

ADDITIONS: G Klay Thompson, F Naji Marshall, G Spencer Dinwiddie, G Quentin Grimes.

BetMGM championship odds: 12-1.

What to expect

The Mavericks addressed their biggest scoring need by adding Thompson in a sign-and-trade after their first trip to the NBA Finals since winning their only title in 2011. Dallas will expect nothing less than another deep playoff run with Thompson playing alongside fellow stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. It will be an adjustment for Thompson, though. He spent his first 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors and helped them win four championships. Thompson is coming off his lowest scoring average since his second season, and the five-time All-Star shot less than 40% from 3-point range for just the second time in his career.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Playing with Doncic and Irving should mean a lot of great looks for Thompson, and the pick-and-roll could be dangerous if Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford stay healthy. Lively and Gafford showed in the playoffs they can be a potent tandem in the middle. Lively is among the most promising big men in the league after debuting as a 19-year-old and having a strong rookie year coming out of Duke. He did miss time with injuries, though.

The not-so-good: Dallas' most important defensive player last season was Jones, and the club hoped to bring him back. Instead, Jones signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers, who lost to the Mavs in the first round of the playoffs. That will leave plenty to prove on defense for a team with the offensive star power of Doncic, Irving and Thompson. Grimes, acquired from Detroit for Hardaway, could play a role along with Marshall, a free agent pickup.

Players to watch

Plenty of eyes will be on Thompson in his first season without Splash Brother Stephen Curry, not to mention star forward Draymond Green. How Thompson, Doncic and Irving complement each other will be one of the bigger storylines in the NBA. The return Dinwiddie is intriguing. He played a big role in the Mavs' run to the 2022 Western Conference finals as an addition at the trade deadline. Now he's back after a season-plus away when Dinwiddie was shipped to Brooklyn in the blockbuster deal for Irving.

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