Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
Klay Thompson is not the player that he used to be. We figure we might as well start there. If he was performing at his peak levels, this trade wouldn’t be realistic.
He isn’t. Frankly, he hasn’t since returning from a series of brutal injuries. That’s not Thompson’s fault – surely, he’s put in the work. Still, it’s entirely possible that we’ll never see the version of Thompson who was key to several Warriors title runs.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t a useful player. Granted, Thompson is struggling to connect from long-range this season. Just don’t be surprised when he changes that. Shooters slump, and shooters as reliable as Thompson almost always break out of that slump as well.
If he broke out of it on the Nets, they’d benefit tremendously. Thompson’s elite off-ball gravity would open the floor for Ben Simmons.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Moreover, his positional flexibility could help the Nets run lineups where Simmons was the only non-shooter, which frankly, they’ll have to do in order to maximize his abilities.
This is a gamble for the Nets. If Thompson’s low percentage shooting is his new norm, it could be a bad decision. Still, at 2-6, they ought to consider taking some risks soon. Is this the right move for the Warriors?
