The Golden State Warriors seemed poised to acquire Kevin Love early in the offseason. However, they refused to deal Klay Thompson and Love was eventually shipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com was asked if Thompson’s performance in the FIBA World Cup was proving the Warriors right in keeping Thompson.
"Not unless they plan to move to FIBA permanently. That’s not to say the Warriors certainly made a mistake, but I don’t think Klay has shown anything in this tournament that we haven’t already seen from him. The marginally shorter 3-point line works to his advantage and he’s a perfect player for this kind of team because he can carry the team when he’s going well and when he’s quiet, there are plenty of other alternatives. But Kevin Love is an awfully good FIBA player as well."
Thompson is clearly a talented player but he unfairly and unfortunately will be judged harshly if Love starts winning titles in Cleveland, which is what most expect to happen.
Thompson averaged 18.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 44.4% from the field, 41.7% from beyond the arc and 79.5% from the charity stripe. In the postseason, he put up 16.4 points, 3.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 40.8% from the field, 36.4% from three and 79.2% from the free throw line. In his three-year career, the 11th-overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, has gone for 16.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 43.5% from the floor, 41.0% from three and 82.7% from the charity stripe.
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