With Warriors legend Klay Thompson all but certain to test free agency this summer, teams across the league are already preparing to make a push for the 5x All-Star. According to Shams Charania, both Florida teams and both Los Angeles teams will be involved in the pursuit.
“I expect him to test the marketplace,” said Charania on the Pat McAfee show. “I would expect both Florida teams, both LA teams, potentially a couple East Coast teams [to show interest]. As of right now, unless there’s a miracle extension, he’s gonna test the marketplace and I think the Warriors have understood going into the year that his future is up in the air…”
Klay Thompson is perhaps the summer’s most intriguing free agent. After making $43 million this year, the 4x champion will no doubt have to take a sizeable pay cut on his next contract, wherever it might be. The biggest question now for Klay is how much it will take to lure him away from the Warriors, considering they couldn’t come to an extension agreement before this season.
It’s no secret that Thompson has a longstanding history with the Warriors and he’s been celebrated there for years for what he helped accomplish from 2015-2022. As a 4x champion, 5x All-Starm, and one of the greatest shooters ever, Thompson developed a sense of loyalty with the Warriors that goes both ways. But after suffering two major injuries in back-to-back seasons, tough times have befallen the franchise and Klay is still working to regain his former glory.
At 34 years old, Klay is a shell of his former self and it can be seen in his shooting splits, which currently sit at 42% from the field and 37% from three. With the Warriors at .500 and looking like a play-in team at best, there’s been massive pressure to trade Thompson for the sake of extending the team’s championship window.
Where Is The Best Landing Spot For Klay Thompson?
It remains to be seen if Klay Thompson is serious about leaving the Warriors behind, but a player with his experience and skill set is wanted by every GM in the league. Even in his current form, Klay would command a lot of interest in free agency and we already know that several big-market franchises will be involved.
In Los Angeles, Klay would fit like a glove on the Lakers. LeBron James works best when he’s got spacing on the floor and Thompson still shoots well enough to provide that at an elite level. Plus, as a Lakers fan growing up, joining the Purple and Gold seems a feasible outcome for Thompson and he wouldn’t have to move too far from his current California home. The same can be said for the Clippers, who would arguably become a superteam with Kawhi, George, Harden, Westbrook, and Thomson all on the same team together.
Another possibility for Klay is that he heads East, where two Florida teams are reportedly prepared to make significant offers. One such team is the Heat, and there is a strong belief that Klay’s championship pedigree would complement ‘Heat Culture’ well. There’s also the Orlando Magic, who might just be one veteran piece away from becoming a serious player in the Eastern Conference.
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