Mavericks woo Klay away from Warriors

DALLAS — Klay Thompson has taken off his Golden State jersey for the last time — and the Warriors say they're going to retire it to commemorate his time with them.

Thompson is moving on from the Warriors, with the four-time league champion agreeing to join the Western Conference champions Dallas Mavericks and change franchises for the first time in his 13-year NBA career, two people with knowledge of the decision said Monday.

ESPN and The Athletic first reported the multi-team deal which, as currently constructed, will be executed as the sign-and-trade of a three-year, $50 million contract involving the Warriors, Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not yet been officially announced.

Without mentioning Dallas — by league rule, they technically cannot acknowledge any part of the trade yet — the Warriors released a statement in tribute to Thompson on Monday night, saying they "can't overstate Klay Thompson's incredible and legendary contributions" to the team, and that "the amount of joy and happiness that Klay provided Warriors fans cannot be minimized."

"His penchant for delivering in pressurized situations on the biggest stage, including many Game 6 heroics, has helped define a career," the Warriors said. "Klay's legacy will live on forever and we look forward to the day we can retire his No 11 jersey at Chase Center, where he will join a host of Warriors immortals, including those who helped shape this recent dynasty — himself included."

Thompson is sixth on the NBA's all-time 3-pointers made list with 2,481, behind Reggie Miller (2,560), Damian Lillard (2,607), James Harden (2,940), Ray Allen (2,973) and Thompson's now-former "Splash Brother" with the Warriors, Stephen Curry, and his 3,747 career makes from beyond the arc.

There were indications last season that Thompson and the Warriors might be headed toward a breakup.

Thompson came off the bench 14 times — not much in the grand scheme of things considering he played 77 games, but those were his first appearances as a reserve since his rookie season of 2011-12. He shot 38.7 percent from 3-point range, the second-worst of his career. He averaged 17.9 points, the third-lowest of his career. He wasn't always in the finishing lineup and the season — and his Warriors career — ended with a 0-for-10 shooting performance against Sacramento in a playin tournament loss.

Thompson — a five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection who missed two entire seasons through injury — took a long look around the court after that game, soaking up the scene, just in case it would be his final time playing with the Warriors. Turns out, it was. And now he'll join a Dallas team that just went to the NBA Finals as a shooter brought in to help Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

"We thank Klay for his contributions and wish him the best, as another chapter in his journey is written," the Warriors said.

The Hornets were planning to acquire guard Josh Green as part of the deal, giving up two second-round draft picks. The 15th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Green has spent all four of his NBA seasons with the Mavericks and averaged 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists this past season.

The league's moratorium on signings and most other offseason movement will be lifted on Saturday.

Star forward Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers agreed a four-year, $212 million maximum contract, ESPN reported early Monday morning.

ESPN reported that George's new deal includes a player option for the 2027-28 campaign, the final season of the contract.

The oft-injured George played at least 60 games for Los Angeles Clippers for the first time in 2023-24, appearing in 74 contests, all of which he started. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from 3-point range.

In 14 NBA seasons with the Pacers (2010-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-19) and the Clippers, George has career averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 boards, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals across 867 games (819 starts).

The Detroit Pistons are signing former 76ers forward Tobias Harris to a two-year, $52 million contract.

Harris, who turns 32 later this month, averaged 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 70 games (all starts) with Philadelphia in 2023-24. The Sixers are moving on from Harris after landing George in free agency.

After the reported Thompson sign-and-trade, Golden State signed free agent guard De'Anthony Melton to the midlevel exception of one year and $12.8 million, several reports said.

Melton, 26, started 91 of the 115 games he played for the 76ers the past two seasons while fighting a back injury. This past season, he averaged a career-high 11.1 points per game to go with 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals, but played just 38 games (33 starts).

Veteran forward Nicolas Batum agreed to return to the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $9.6 million free agent deal, ESPN reported.

Batum, 35, was traded from the Clippers to the 76ers in November as part of the three-team deal that brought James Harden to LA.

In 57 games (38 starts) with the 76ers last season, Batum averaged 5.5 points with 4.2 rebounds and shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range.

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $87 million contract, The Athletic and ESPN reported.

Hartenstein, 26, emerged as a prominent piece of the New York Knicks' postseason run, but the franchise prioritized other moves to start the offseason, including a trade for Mikal Bridges and re-signing forward OG Anunoby. He averaged 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 75 games (49 starts) last season.

The Thunder also re-signed guards Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe on Monday. Wiggins, after declining a team option, cashed in with a new five-year, $47 million contract, and Joe agreed to a four-year, $48 million contract on Monday, according to The Athletic and ESPN.

The Milwaukee Bucks signed veteran guard Delon Wright to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, ESPN reported.

Wright, 32, will join his ninth career team after splitting the 2023-24 season between the Washington Wizards and Miami Heat. In 508 career games, coming off the bench in all but 85, Wright has averaged 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

The Chicago Bulls signed free agent center Jalen Smith to a three-year, $27 million contract, ESPN reported.

Agencies