Tim MacMahon On Why Klay Chose Dallas, What Mavs Moves Could Be Next | Shan & RJ

Why did longtime Splash Brother Klay Thompson choose to leave Golden State and bring his talents to Dallas? ESPN NBA insider Tim MacMahon joined Shan & RJ to discuss why Thompson chose the Mavs over the Lakers, what moves could be next for the defending West champs, why DJJ chose to leave for LA, and more!
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#DallasMavericks #KlayThompson #DerrickJonesJr

[@macp6870]

Djj was elevated by playing with Luka. Marshall is an upgrade for sure. He’ll experience the same elevation as djj, green, finney, Dinwiddie, and others have experienced playing with Luka. Excited for what grimes can bring also

[@aldsdwin]

Not sure this applies to Spence since Spence can get his own shots and he plays with Brunson when Luka sits. But add to that DLive, Gafford, Maxi, Reggie, and most especially Powell. Most of Luka's highlight assists during his 2nd and 3rd years have lead to Powell dunks (which seems like an alternate timeline)

[@kevinbooe4123]

Shan wearing a hoodie in the dead of summer is the biggest takeaway

[@marioperez4960]

As a huge mavs fan, I can honestly say I can't stand Tim Macmahon

[@JJW419]

Last year klay wasnt into it you cant judge off last season. You saw with kyrie how much being wanted amd happy does for you. Klay will shine in dallas.

[@MrOctober44]

Lol. What happens when he's not happy? Does he pout like a teenager again?

[@jimmygreer2140]

I feel VERY confident that Klay is going to have a TREMENDOUS season this year. He seems to have been insulted so he's motivated to prove something to people. He's in a new environment that isn't NEARLY as toxic as teammates getting sucker-punched in practices and everything else. And sometimes all people really need is a change of scenery to revitalize them. 13 years is a LONG time anywhere. And I'm sure there were many times for Klay where showing up to the stadium felt more like work than having a good time putting a show on for 10's of thousands. It's just human nature to get accustomed to things and take them for granted. So maybe a new stadium, new security people to get to know and be friendly with, new training staff, a whole set of new teammates....it's all fresh to Klay now and maybe reminds him of being a young player in the league & puts a pep in his step. I feel like Klay is just the epitome of a player needing a change of scenery. The pressure of his contract situation was clearly taking a toll on him. The Draymond Circus that went on all season long. The fans & media getting on his case for not living up to his 40m a year salary. So maybe coming to Dallas will help Klay become a better player like it did with Kyrie. Like how Kyrie was able to find peace off the court, Klay can show up in Dallas and find some peace as well. Golden State might not be like Boston or NYC but the Warriors have been a marquee team and I'm sure the media has them under a microscope. And it doesn't help with Draymond raining down extra National Media coverage throughout the year. But the Dallas media is more tame than that when it comes to the Mavs. The Cowboys are a different monster. But the Mavs aren't given that microscope scrutiny.

[@amdtexas9383]

Coincidence that good free agents are coming to Dallas now that Cuban is not in charge? I don't think so.

[@brysondesinor7335]

They got Kyrie. I think your heat if for Donnie

[@Physics_Dude]

Cuban is in charge. Cuban will retain his 27% share in the organization and he will also maintain “full control and final say” when it comes to basketball operations.

[@Pjdmffl]

This is silly. Cuban hired Nico. He’s the difference. Players respect Cuban…across the league. The difference is we are winning and have Kyrie and Luka.

[@E4Mafiapowers]

@@Pjdmfflyeah I don’t know where the random Cuban slander comes from, he’s honestly one of if not the most human and down to earth billionaires. Every player that comes to Dallas says he’s a great guy

[@williamphillips3035]

The difference is now, Nico doesn't have to get Cuban's approval on any deals since the selling of the team. Cuban is a minor shareholder in the franchise now and regardless of what anyone says, Nico has way better relationships with players across the league than Cuban. This just goes to show how bad of a GM that Donnie Nelson was, even though he acquired Durk and Luka, that was 20 years apart.

[@andrewcause25]

1. DSJ would be great with the rest of what we have under the 1st apron. Great POA defender. Doesn’t offer much offensively, but would be a welcome addition. 2. Nico and the coaching stuff knew they had to improve their shooting. Could the defense dip 10-15%? Sure. Is our offense likely going to be Top 3 in the NBA? Absolutely. Defense wasn’t the primary issue in the Finals. It was reliable shot making outside Luka and Kyrie. Between Klay, Grimes, and Naji they got that. They stayed under the 1st apron, they don’t have a bad contract on the roster, and they didn’t trade any of their 1st round picks.

[@vantianhergheligiu12]

don't know if defense will dip 10 15%. I mean their defense got really good with 45 months together . that's not a long time to build chemistry. and I think chemistry a lot more important on defense. so even if player wise defense got a bit worse. a whole season playing together should make up for that

[@texascat331]

Klay will get so many wide open 3s he will not believe it. The same wide open 3s THJ bricked over and over.

[@binkybink3918]

I Swear

[@jerometal2816]

I like the Klay, Naji and Grimes pickup. It's a few step back on defense but we added more shooting and skill which we lack. Defense will improve as the season goes.

[@djkido316]

Nico not done yet tho, Mavs still under 1st apron so more moves are incoming.

[@reececisneros1622]

@@djkido316for real. There’s 4.4mil left and maxis contract to trade which we should

[@carloswright2598]

All we need now is Alec Burks and/or Spencer Dinwiddie and it's a wrap

[@jasongonzales2574]

Tim is a GOOOOOOOF

[@jasongonzales2574]

So is shan

[@leonardo_mrll]

defense gon take a dip obviously but we don't really rely that much on POA defense ... i don't like the fit buy if everything fits klay could be easily and 18 ppg scorer on 40%+ from 3 and play elite TEAM defense since he still Is 6'6 with a strong body sending guys to lively and contesting midranges from the side/back

[@jimmygreer2140]

I've got ZERO worries about the defense in the regular season. It's gonna be just fine. It's the playoffs where we may find ourselves wishing we had better POA defense. Or we might not. Who knows, maybe Grimes shows out to be a tremendous POA defender. Maybe Naji is better at it than we thought he could be. But I have hope that Klay can improve his defense. He's always gonna have some level of good defense because of his basketball IQ and his good hands to knock the ball free. But I believe that an offense that is going to have him running around screens a lot less will save his legs for the defensive end.

[@a.puerto5667]

⁠@@jimmygreer2140I’m not worried because I have liked Grimes a lot since 2 summers ago. That kid can play Defense and shoot it. 2 years ago I was jealous of the Knicks in having him. I think he’ll be that POA defender for them.

[@e.d.u.8861]

Marshall has good D and can create his own shots. Klay can be our 6th like how thj should have been.

[@sportgame9316]

Sorry maxi Powell exum😢 totally 18 m + 4 m mle some first and Hardy or omax😊😊😢

[@jcm7814]

Gonna miss Klay in the Bay Area.

[@glennvastine5713]

He’s better defensively than Josh green? I’ve heard absolutely no one say that. In the world.

[@boristeplitskiy7632]

Josh green was an effort guy. I think the better comparison is Grimes. He’s a better defender, athletic, and a better shooter. His handles in the pick and roll compared to Green is night and day. I loved Josh but I think the Mavs really wanted a 3 and D wing to develop and didn’t get consistency from him. Plus green got a pretty large deal two years ago and it was probably a bit too much for him. I think Grimes is going to come off the bench and be able to get hot like THJ but play great on ball and off ball defense.

[@brownhairydog6472]

Wtf would Klay feel betrayed by the warriors? They paid him the max when he sat out s season. They offered him more money than Dallas per year. He had the chance to prove himself over the next two years to get more years. He sulked. Shame

[@bjmusic1984]

You can hate on Cuban all you want if he & Donnie didn't draft Dirk and make the trades and signings they did the Mavericks would not have a championship right now. Donnie and Cuban drafted Dirk then Luka. All Nico has done is draft black players, trade for black players and sign black players in free agency. If he had been GM back in 2018 he would not have drafted Luka Doncic. So if you are fine with an all black team then go ahead and cheer on.

[@funkydgarp4985]

You're right with Donnie, but Cuban was not the owner back then

[@a.puerto5667]

I want Dinwiddie Back in a Mavs Uniform. Mavs need another creator. I would also give a draft pick for Brogdon. Dennis Smith Jr would’ve been nice in the start of 2023 when you had Luka, Dinwiddie together after Brunson left, but not now. I need someone better. Dinwiddie would help a lot on this bench as someone that can attack the lane too.

[@leonardoaureliocoloso5752]

Luka PG Kyrie SG PG Klay SG Gafford PF Lively C Dallas should get another subs big man like Bol Bol, D Howard, Theiss

[@arjunadan3812]

Not Gaff and Lively on the same time! Klay could be 6th man of the year.

[@gregfloyd3407]

Tim is a hack

[@aaronm8552]

What if he slash too

[@hairlokk8672]

Without djj and josh i dont think they can play fast next year

[@CharifRocka]

Man Josh played 10min a game, maybe. 😂 What are you talking about

[@Aggie4life77]

@@CharifRocka😂😂😂

[@webberfan1234]

@@CharifRockalmao. Roasted @hairlok

[@jimmygreer2140]

Tell me you know nothing about Grimes & Naji without telling me. Grimes is a VERY aggressive and fast player. And maybe the best thing about Naji's game is his ability to run a fast break. He's just got that knack of spacing for fast breaks. He knows when he should be attacking the bucket or if he should just spot up and wait for the fastbreak kickout 3. Granted, the fast breaks aren't going to be NEARLY as dynamic & exciting without DJJ & Josh. But to say Dallas can't play fast without them is absurd.

[@macp6870]

Wrong. Grimes is a green clone but better. Marshall isn’t as athletic but is a much better passer off the attack than jones.. mavs will be fine

[@Vesicamusicatx]

Boy is washed.

[@E4Mafiapowers]

Yeah averaging 18 points on 45 from the field 38 from 3 is so washed… Also fuck what macmahon says he’s an average defender

[@reececisneros1622]

You’re as brain dead as McMahon. 17.9 Ppg is amazing for a 3rd option. He was a 2nd option in golden state and couldn’t keep up. Nobody on the mavs not name Kyrie or Luke shot 39% from 3 and average 17 Ppg with that efficiency. Sure he isn’t who he was in his prime but nobody who gets older is outside of lebron who’s an anomaly.

[@jordanbrownlee7667]

@@E4Mafiapowersexactly and he had to defend up the past couple years. Curry, Cp3 and the rookie pg are all under 6’6

[@awesomecoolguy6515]

@@E4Mafiapowers No he's not! Klay has never recovered from his ACL and Achilles tears. He CANNOT play defense anymore and hasn't since 2019. When GSW won the chip in 2022, it was Wiggins on defense and Poole as the second splash brother! Klay has barely dropped any points in the last three playoffs. In fact in 2022, he only blocked ONE shot in the entire playoffs. Klay left because he didn't want to come off the GSW bench because Kaminga was taking his minutes because Klay's production has sharply declined. That's the fact jack!

[@E4Mafiapowers]

@@awesomecoolguy6515 you say he hasn’t produced like 18 points on great efficiency isn’t elite role player status… I’m not saying he’s still an all star but he’s a very quality basketball player, and you’re just wrong about that. A block isn’t necessarily indicative of defense… you can alter shots and plays without getting blocks, and klay does that on a nightly basis. He’s not prime kawhi Leonard but he plays good perimeter defense and has the foot speed to defend wings and forwards. It’s not like he has to be a super star to impact Dallas anyways, he just needs to do what he did last year and play well in the playoffs, which he should now that he’s on a better team

[@rabboni97]

He is still overpaid. He just can't accept the fact that he isn't the same player before the injuries. Ego made him leave GSW. He still believes he deserves max contract.

[@kolbin20]

second greatest shooter of all time for about 17 mil is an over pay? if it was about money he would’ve gone to LA who offered him more momey

[@rabboni97]

@@kolbin20 It is about money. He went to Dallas because after deductions he is getting more money out of his contract. California tax is ludicrous. Why do you think he keeps rejecting the GSW offer?

[@kolbin20]

@@rabboni97 why don’t you listen to the people talking to his agent? it wasn’t about the money, it was about the years on the contract not the dollar amount.. it’s been reported on several times but believe your little conspiracy theories all you want 🤡

[@kpNov23]

​@rabboni97 klay didn't come to tx for the taxes lol.

[@kolbin20]

@@rabboni97 bc he doesn’t wanna be there anymore? it’s been reported he knew he was leaving GS for months.. IT WASNT ABOUT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IT WAS ABOUT THE YEARS.. yes he wanted the same deal that draymond got and guess what.. they offered it to him but only 2 years instead of 4 so he said no