Klay Thompson rejected a reunion with the Golden State Warriors on Friday, instead choosing to join the Miami Heat after securing a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks.
As much as some fans may be understandably frustrated with Thompson's decision, there's little doubt Stephen Curry would be sitting back smiling and feeling happy for his former Splash Brother as he undertakes the next chapter of his career.
Stephen Curry will only smile at Klay Thompson's Heat decision
Thompson's departure from Golden State two years ago was a notable moment in franchise history after dreams that he, Curry and Draymond Green would play their entire careers together. Thompson took up a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks after 13 years and four championships with the Warriors.
The always pragmatic Curry understood the situation, outlining his wish for Thompson to be happy after the major injuries that derailed the prime of his career between 2019 and early 2022.
“That’s what it came down to: he was in need of a change,” Curry said in July 2024. “At the end of the day I want him to be happy. He deserves to enjoy playing basketball however long he wants to play. It just (stinks) that it won’t be with us.”
This quote may have been delivered over two years ago, but it would surely hold weight now as well after Thompson's move to the Heat. We'll likely hear Curry's thoughts in the coming days or weeks, but don't be surprised to hear very similar sentiments.
Klay Thompson now gets another opportunity after Mavericks failed him
Curry will be happy knowing that Thompson now gets the opportunity to play meaningful basketball once again, rather than waste the final years of his career on a Mavericks team that delivered a false promise.
Thompson was supposed to be the missing piece to a team just coming off the NBA Finals, only for Dallas to trade Luka Doncic just over six months later. Not only did Nico Harrison and the front office pull the rug out from under Doncic, but also Thompson who was suddenly stuck in a completely different situation to what he signed up for.
The Mavericks did Thompson a favor by agreeing to a buyout on Friday, but it's a favor they probably owed even though it's now a different front office. As much as there may be a level of disappointment that Thompson isn't back in the Bay, there should be some delight from Warriors fans, coaches and players that he's back on a playoff-level team.
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