NBA Legend Klay Thompson Finds New Team
Klay Thompson, a four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, has reached a buyout agreement with the Dallas Mavericks and is set to join a new team. Coaching staff changes in Dallas may also impact the career of Israeli coach Modi Maor.
Klay Thompson, one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and a future Hall of Famer, is set to play for the third team of his career. On Friday evening, the Dallas Mavericks announced they had reached a contract buyout agreement with the veteran. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat within 48 hours.
Recognizing that his prime years are behind him, Thompson informed the Mavericks' front office of his desire to play for a championship contender next season, leading to two months of negotiations regarding a buyout.
In Miami, Thompson will reunite with former teammate Andrew Wiggins. The Heat are adding a reliable shooter who will provide critical floor spacing for stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Last month, the team also acquired Tim Hardaway Jr., another proven NBA three-point threat who played for the Denver Nuggets last season.
Thompson is a four-time NBA champion, having served as a cornerstone of the Golden State Warriors dynasty between 2015 and 2022. His career was interrupted by a torn Achilles tendon in the 2019 Finals and a similar injury to his other leg the following summer, causing him to miss more than two full seasons.
Two years ago, Thompson joined the Mavericks to play alongside Luka Doncic, helping the team reach the NBA Finals. However, the franchise's identity has since shifted toward a rebuild centered around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
Impact on Modi Maor
Another departure from the Mavericks' staff is assistant coach Phil Handy. As reported by Marc J. Spears, Handy is moving to the Philadelphia 76ers to serve as an assistant to Nick Nurse. The pair previously won a championship together with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Handy also brings experience from his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers, where he worked with LeBron James.
These moves may have significant implications for Israeli coach Modi Maor. Maor, who led his team to a Japanese championship earlier this year, was initially set to join Dusty May’s staff at the University of Michigan. Following May’s appointment as the Mavericks' head coach, reports emerged that Maor would join him in Dallas as an assistant.
