Reports: Dallas Mavericks get "Splash Brother" Thompson
Celebrate with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and German Maxi Kleber: According to consistent media reports, the Dallas Mavericks have signed four-time NBA Champion Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors.
The Dallas Mavericks, who lost the NBA final against Boston, are reportedly making a new title run with prominent reinforcement. According to US media, the four-time NBA Champion Klay Thompson has agreed to a three-year contract worth $150 million with the team of German forward Maximilian Kleber.
Thompson would provide additional shooting quality for the Stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving at the Texans. The 34-year-old has played for the Golden State Warriors since 2011, forming a harmonious duo ("Splash Brothers") with Stephen Curry, and winning the NBA championship in the years 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. After a disappointing season with the Warriors, Thompson became a free agent without a contract. The Los Angeles Lakers had also shown interest - the deal with the Mavericks comes as a surprise.
Competition for Dallas in the future is Isaiah Hartenstein: The German basketball professional is reportedly switching from the New York Knicks to the Oklahoma City Thunder. According to several US media, the 26-year-old is on the verge of signing a three-year contract worth $261 million ($237 million Euro) with the title contender from the Western Conference. Only basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki has signed a higher-paying contract as a German in the NBA to date. In terms of salary, Hartenstein has the highest-paying German contract in NBA history.
Hartenstein's OKC with a top roster
Hartenstein was a free agent after two years with the Knicks and can therefore freely switch teams. In the previous season, the Center was one of the top performers for the Knicks, who were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, and averaged 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The 2.13-meter-tall Hartenstein, who is known for his physique and aggressiveness on the offensive rebound, could not receive an adequate offer from the Knicks due to salary cap restrictions.
OKC failed in the previous NBA season in the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks and had finished the regular season in the West at the top. For the coming years, the young roster of OKC is considered one of the best in the NBA, only a little length was missing before the transfer of the German. Hartenstein has played for five NBA teams so far and will meet Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma, who was second in the MVP vote for the league in the 2023/24 season. After Dennis Schröder (2018-2020), Hartenstein would be the second German player at the franchise since it moved to Oklahoma in 2008. Previously, the team was based in Seattle as the SuperSonics.
Additionally, Basketball-Star Paul George is switching to the Philadelphia 76ers and is reportedly set to receive a contract worth over $200 million for four years. This was reported by ESPN and "The Athletic" among others, citing sources. It was previously known that the 34-year-old was leaving the Los Angeles Clippers after five years.
The Dallas Mavericks' acquisition of Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors has sparked numerous sport-related transfers and rumors in the NBA. This move could potentially make the Mavericks stronger, with stars like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving benefiting from Thompson's shooting abilities.
Isaiah Hartenstein, another notable basketball player, is reportedly set to join the Oklahoma City Thunder, further strengthening their roster. This move comes after Hartenstein's contract negotiations with the New York Knicks failed due to salary cap restrictions.
With the addition of Klay Thompson and Isaiah Hartenstein, both the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder are making significant changes to their teams, sparking excitement among NBA and basketball fans in the USA and beyond.
