Is Klay Thompson Dallas’ fourth best player?

The NBA recently released its regular season schedule, bringing some momentum to the dog days of the offseason, but the quiet period is still in full swing until training camps open in early October.

We asked fans on social media to send us their questions about the Mavericks and what they want for the upcoming season. If you have any questions, send them to [email protected] or @MikeACurtis2 on Twitter/X. We’ll post them as soon as we answer them.

We’ve received questions about Dallas’ offseason moves, including the signings of Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes, Luka Doncic’s health after an injury-filled postseason and more.

Here you will find answers to questions about Thompson.

I know Klay’s shooting helps the Mavs stretch the court, but after his injuries and the impact they have on his skills there, are there any concerns about his defensive performance? – @tha_general_mp

Thompson’s signing fills a glaring hole in the Mavericks’ offense. His ability to stretch the court adds another dimension to Dallas’ offense, but there’s another side of the ball to consider.

Thompson is no longer the elite defender he once was, largely due to his age at 34 and his two serious leg injuries. Fans are justified in saying that, but he doesn’t need to shut down defenders to be successful on this team. Most of that responsibility will fall on Marshall, Washington and the rest of the Mavericks’ frontcourt. Thompson just needs to make things difficult for his opponents. Distractions and difficult battles should be enough at this stage of his career.

Is there a realistic scenario where the Mavs are better than last season and Klay (Thompson) isn’t their third best player? – @asherrodblakely

There could be a realistic scenario where the Mavericks are a better team than they were last season without Thompson being their third-best player. It’s all about the internal development that Nico Harrison has pointed out several times since the conclusion of the NBA Finals.

If second-year center Dereck Lively II takes another leap, similar to his steady development in his rookie year, he could become one of Dallas’ most important players. Lively’s potential on both ends of the court makes him an interesting player to keep an eye on this season. His ability to command the court, serve as a lob threat and basket shooter, grab rebounds and roll earned Lively second-team All-Rookie honors. He sank the first 3-pointer of his career in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, and there could be more to come.

Thompson could still make a big impression for the Mavericks. That expectation comes with a three-year, $50 million contract, but a significant jump from Lively makes Dallas a serious contender to return to the NBA Finals.

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