Klay Thompson is on the outs with the Golden State Warriors, as the free agent is expected to leave the franchise by signing with another squad or via sign-and-trade. The Warriors are open to helping Thompson get to his preferred destination in a sign-and-trade, which would also bring back assets for the Stephen Curry-led franchise who still aim to contend.
Thompson has been heavily linked with his hometown teams the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, while the Dallas Mavericks are also in hot pursuit of the four-time champion. With a sign-and-trade route available to Klay, more teams could join the fray and try to entice the Warriors and Klay to look at them as a potential destination.
As Thompson continues to sit in the free agent pool after the first day of negotiations, let’s take a look at five mock sign-and-trade deals that would lead to Thompson finding a new franchise.
Los Angeles Lakers
Golden State Warriors receive: Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Klay Thompson
The Golden State Warriors would prefer to send Klay Thompson to any franchise instead of rivals Los Angeles Lakers, but the Lakers are the most attractive destination for Thompson. He averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists last season. Klay would receive a three-year, $65 million deal beginning at roughly $21 million in the first season in this scenario.
Klay grew up a Lakers fan and his father spent four years as a player for the franchise, now serving as a radio announced for the Lakers. The familial ties are the strongest with the Lakers, and if the Warriors want to take care of Klay on his way out, they wouldn’t object to a deal with the Lakers.
Despite rumblings of D’Angelo Russell possibly switching teams in Thompson sign-and-trade, the Warriors would have minimal interest in the guard after an unimpressive six-month stint in the 2019-20 season. Vincent would be a fine pickup to have a defense-oriented backup on the squad after Chris Paul’s departure.
Jarred Vanderbilt would be the main prize, as the Warriors can answer their frontcourt problems with Vanderbilt’s versatile presence. He could play as the five or the four and provide aggressive defense throughout a game. He averaged 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals last season. The Lakers would hate to lose him, but this will have to be the price to acquire Klay as an elite floor-spacer next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Los Angeles Clippers
Golden State Warriors receive: Norman Powell, Bones Hyland
Los Angeles Clippers receive: Klay Thompson
Sending Klay to the Clippers would be a much easier decision to stomach for the Warriors given how the Clips have been weakened after Paul George walked away to join the Philadelphia 76ers. The Warriors could hold a grudge over the Clippers refusing their offer for George, but they could manage to come out with a decent return for a player who is on his way out anyway.
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard need a player to be their third offensive option on the Clippers if they want to have a shot at being competitive. Bringing in Klay to shoulder that responsibility would be risky, but Klay is a proven offensive magnet, finishing the NBA top-four in 3-point makes last season despite it being the worst shooting year of his career.
Thompson would receive a hypothetical contract beginning at $22 million in this deal, maybe even a three-year, $66 million contract. Powell averaged 13.9 points and 2.6 rebounds last season but has struggled to fit alongside Harden.
Bones Hyland has been on the trade block since last season, so this would be a great opportunity to send him to the Warriors squad in need of scoring. Hyland averaged 6.9 points and 2.5 assists last season.
Sacramento Kings
Golden State Warriors receive: Kevin Huerter, Chris Duarte
Sacramento Kings receive: Klay Thompson
The Sacramento Kings are outside contenders to land Klay, having shown interest in acquiring the four-time champion before. If Klay is happy with staying in California for a team beyond the Lakers, Clippers, or Warriors, the Kings would be a natural fit.
The Kings could use Thompson’s regular floor-spacing abilities, especially with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis both causing defenses to contract to cover off the paint. A shooter like Thompson would be a game-changer here and would legitimately give the Kings a shot at making a Playoff run.
The player return is among the least impressive, with the Warriors replacing Klay’s shooting with Kevin Huerter, who averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists last season. Chris Duarte’s $5 million expiring contract will be required to give Thompson the $20 million+ contract he’s likely chasing. Duarte averaged 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds last season, failing to lock down a role on the franchise.
San Antonio Spurs
Golden State Warriors receive: Keldon Johnson
San Antonio Spurs receive: Klay Thompson
The San Antonio Spurs can provide a very interesting exit route for both the Warriors and Klay Thompson. While the Spurs are the least guaranteed to be a contender next season, they have made interesting moves and are bound to see Victor Wembanyama take a leap. With the franchise looking to move off Keldon Johnson, the Warriors could land a legitimate asset in a sign-and-trade swap.
Johnson averaged 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in a fluctuating role for the Spurs last season but has previously averaged 20 points in the NBA. He’s just 24 years old and has worked with Steve Kerr on Team USA before, so there could be a way to help him acclimatize to the Warriors style of play. His ceiling might not be as high as many had assumed, but he’d be a more than usable player for the Warriors next season.
The Spurs added Chris Paul to give Wembanyama a veteran point guard and could land Klay to be a veteran shooter Wemby can kick out to. These high-caliber veterans would also be good for the squad as they aim to find their way back to NBA contention once again.
Dallas Mavericks
Golden State Warriors receive: Josh Green, $10 million traded player exception
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Klay Thompson
The Dallas Mavericks have been referred to as the favorites in the Klay Thompson race by many Warriors insiders due to their compelling sign-and-trade package featuring a good player and future flexibility for the franchise. Klay could get a contract almost worth $25 million annually and be traded to the Mavericks, who have a $16.9 traded player exception they can include in any deal to acquire additional talent.
Josh Green has been an intriguing swingman for the Mavericks since 2020, but the acquisition of Quentin Grimes, a very similar player stylistically, has made Green expendable. He’s averaged 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on low minutes and low-volume shooting in Dallas, with a change of scenario possibly helping him rediscover the potential that had the Mavs consider him untouchable a few seasons ago.
Klay would be the ideal shooter on a Mavericks team that fell short offensively beyond Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the Finals. While Klay is capable of his cold streaks as well, his 38.7% shooting from three on high volume bodes well for the Mavs given the defensive attention Luka and Kyrie will attract, let alone Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington. It could be the perfect role on a contender that could bring Klay ring No. 5.
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