Although the Boston Celtics failed to secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, their championship pedigree and commendable chemistry give them a good shot at winning their second consecutive title.
On Sunday, the second-seeded Celtics will face the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic to begin their championship defense.
Still, with the organization boasting an expensive roster built for immediate success, it will likely be forced to adjust its roster in free agency.
The Celtics could swap Jrue Holiday, who signed a four-year, $134 million contract extension with Boston last April, for an ex-Golden State Warriors four-time NBA champion this summer.
Klay Thompson spent 13 productive seasons with the Warriors. The 41.1% career long-range sniper cemented himself as one of the most lethal sharpshooters ever while competing in the Bay.
From drilling 14 triples against the Chicago Bulls in 2018 to recording 37 points in the third quarter of a 2015 contest against the Sacramento Kings while nailing nine threes, Thompson set the nets on fire in the Bay.
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More importantly, the Washington State product, also a stout on-ball defender, helped the Dubs form a daunting dynasty that won four titles from 2014 to 2022.
Unfortunately, a disappointing end to the 2023-24 campaign compelled Golden State to move on from Thompson in the offseason.
With the Dallas Mavericks in Year 14, Thompson’s scoring hasn’t been as impressive. Still, the 35-year-old veteran is a valuable NBA asset capable of getting hot from deep.
Thompson averaged 14.0 points per game on 41.2% field goal shooting and 39.1% three-point shooting in 72 regular-season contests.
Once the 2025 offseason arrives, Sir Charles in Charge’s Michael Saenz believes the five-time All-Star could join a different franchise.
“To say or suggest that the Dallas Mavericks were underwhelming this season would be a massive understatement,” Saenz wrote last Sunday.
“In fact, with the way this season has unraveled, it's safe to say that nothing is off the table for the Mavs heading into the summer - especially after the team made the polarizing decision to trade Luka Doncic at the NBA Trade Deadline.”
“Even though it's probably a small chance, there's at least a non-zero probability that a retooling of the roster may be on the horizon for the Mavs this offseason.”
"If that does end up being the case, there's a very real chance that Dallas could enter the summer with the goal of trying to trade away Klay Thompson. Klay may be on a somewhat manageable contract, but if the Mavs do decide to move in a new direction, it could make his role obsolete.”
Acquiring Thompson in free agency would give the Celtics a less expensive two-way stud (inked a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks last summer) who can change games on both ends nightly.
They would also receive an asset with experience who knows what it takes to win multiple championships in the playoffs.
Thompson, who hopes to help the Mavericks win their final Play-In contest, could receive a call from Boston this summer.
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