Insider Flags Mavs’ Major Klay Thompson Concern Amid Calls for Anthony Davis Trade
Thompson played 21 minutes in the loss and grabbed just one rebound with zero assists. Thompson started the game sharp from beyond the arc, hitting his first three three-point attempts in the first half before missing his fourth attempt early in the third quarter. He bounced back by making his next attempt less than two minutes later to help stop a 13-0 Hornets run. Especially with Kyrie Irving sidelined indefinitely due to and ACL tear, Dallas’ defense perimeter is consequentially weaker. Dallas brought in Russell to fill Irving‘s void during his absence. Russell and Thompson are both past their athletic primes and lack the quick-footed movement they once possessed. Particularly, Thompson, following his ACL and Achilles injuries, still has moments where he can clamp down on some wings and guards with less quickness, but he’s not the same defender he was during his Golden State days, when he averaged 0.9 steals in first 8 seasons with the Dubs and 0.6 steals till last season with the Mavericks after coming back from his injuries in 2021. Defense has never been one of Russell‘s calling cards despite his 6-foot-4 frame. With both players potentially starting in the backcourt for Dallas, the Mavericks could struggle with three-point defense and opposing guards’ penetration to the rim. The team will need to rely heavily on their frontline of Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis to compensate for the backcourt’s lack of athleticism. Thompson also made a bold proclamation about the team’s defensive potential earlier this month, telling The Athletic there’s no reason the Mavericks can’t be the highest-rated defensive team in the NBA. He emphasized having a roster full of two-way players, pointing to Cooper Flagg, Washington, Naji Marshall, and Christie on the wings, plus Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford in the interior. But the Hornets’ matchup has led to questions arising around Thompson’s future in the starting line-up- which is also concerning because Thompson came off the bench for 14 games during the 2023-24 season with the Warriors, and reports indicate he was not happy with the role. He felt disrespected by the move, which factored into his decision to leave Golden State. When he joined the Mavericks, there was a clear guarantee of a starting role as part of his recruitment. Amid the Klay-Russell defense dilemma, another concerning news has been afloat after the preseason matchup, revolving around none other than the front-line player Anthony Davis, about which- let’s discuss further. Anthony Davis under heat- trade rumors brewing A growing number of Dallas Mavericks fans are already calling for the team to trade Anthony Davis after a disappointing preseason debut. The frustration stems from the franchise altering trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The backlash intensified following the preseason loss to the Hornets. Davis finished the game with 12 points and 4 rebounds, but posted a team-worst plus/minus of negative 24 during his 24 minutes on the court. His performance was described by analyst Trevor Lane as sluggish, with moments where he looked disinterested.