The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks squared off in the NBA Finals last year. The guys in green ended the tilt on top, but they were also widely expected to be in that position. Dallas was not. They battled through a tough Western Conference and defied expectations to reach the Finals. So, when it came time to adjust the roster in the summer, they took a big swing.
Klay Thompson inked a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavs, leaving his long-time home with the Golden State Warriors. The Mavericks struggled with their off-ball shooting at times throughout the 2024 postseason, so it made sense to bring in one of the best shooters of all time.
But things haven’t gone completely smoothly.
Adding NBA talent is impossible, but not for the Celtics
An anonymous Eastern Conference executive recently spoke with Brian Windhorst of ESPN, noting that the Thompson fit has looked a bit clunky in Dallas so far.
"Klay has been an awkward fit so far," an Eastern Conference executive said. "Derrick Jones shot the ball better and played better D for them last year."
Simultaneously, a scout told Windhorst that nothing can be determined until the playoffs come around.
"Klay has been fine," one scout said. "His impact will be determined in the postseason, and if he has a few big games, then no one will remember what he shot from 3 in November."
Regardless, the fact that a guy who looked like such an ideal fit next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving has been a bit shaky proves one thing: Adding talent in the NBA is hard.
Oftentimes, players that seem like perfect fits in a certain situation don’t work out. That’s why what the Celtics did last offseason is so impressive.
Boston added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to a core that had played together for years. On top of that, it was Joe Mazzulla’s first full offseason as the head coach.
Yet when the season came around, everything looked great. Holiday stepped back into a smaller offensive role, focusing even more on playing a new style of defense (mostly as an off-ball roamer), while Porzingis adopted a more post-heavy style of play.
Everything looked smooth, and they went on to win the NBA Championship in one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history.
As so many teams around the league find trouble adding talent that fits with their stars, the Celtics did the opposite. By the time the playoffs come around, Thompson could be gelling perfectly, but for the time being, it’s a bit awkward.
Boston found two amazing pieces that complement their stars in a matter of months. They have the best front office in the NBA, and by comparison, Thompson’s fit in Dallas and some other fits around the league prove that.