The Golden State Warriors and Klay Thompson haven’t been able to come together on a contract extension so far this offseason. The likelihood of Klay going into the next offseason as a free agent is looking highly likely after Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that contract talks between Klay and the Warriors had stalled due to a considerable difference in value.
If Klay plays this year on an expiring contract and can test the market next season, the Warriors may be in trouble. Draymond Green played last season with the possibility of testing free agency but chose to return to the Warriors on a four-year, $100 million deal before getting an offer sheet from any other team.
Klay averaged 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season and was crucial to the Warriors even making the playoffs with how he stepped up to be the team’s leader when Stephen Curry was out injured.
Thompson will not want to settle like how Draymond did, which could open up the room for many teams around the NBA to execute either an offseason coup for Klay with cap space or force the Warriors into giving him a sign-and-trade, like how they did for Kevin Durant in 2019.
So, which five teams could make a summer splash to steal the four-time champion from Golden State next season?
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings established themselves as one of the teams to watch out for in the West last season, snapping a 16-year playoff drought to earn the No. 3 seed in the West. Their season ended at the hands of the Warriors last playoffs and they reportedly were interested in making a swing for Draymond Green this summer before the star re-signed with Golden State.
Thompson would be the ideal backcourt mate for De’Aaron Fox. With both Fox and Domantas Sabonis being poor three-point shooters, Thompson can add a whole new element of spacing with his 41.2% conversion rate from three last season on 10.6 attempts per game.
They’ll have movable contracts like the expiring deal of Harrison Barnes next summer to make salary space to sign Klay outright to keep the four-time champion in California.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets took an aggressive step toward contention this summer by handing out big contracts to Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. They needed to fill salary space and gave VanVleet a short deal to keep salary cap flexibility. They could rejig their roster next season and add a genuine championship veteran to their young roster by signing Thompson.
Klay would be a fantastic win-now veteran for the Rockets, who can help the young stars on the roster like Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. build winning habits. In addition, he would allow the Rockets to give Amen Thompson a chance at point guard with his spacing abilities.
Given Texas has no federal income taxes, it may be Thompson’s best way to maximize what could be the final big contract of the 34-year-old’s career.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have been very cautious with what they trade James Harden away for, but it’s not just because they have to maximize the return to win this season. The 76ers could have over $80 million in cap space next season with Harden and Tobias Harris’ contracts coming off the books. This makes the 76ers big players in 2024 free agency, which could feature a relatively underwhelming cast of talent.
Thompson could just be the best player hitting the market if Paul George and Kawhi Leonard end up staying with the Clippers. Klay is a more complementary fit with the 76ers, adding elite spacing in a backcourt alongside Tyrese Maxey.
Joel Embiid has not had a kick-out option like this since JJ Redick in 2018/19. That was one of their most promising years in the Embiid era, and maximizing what Klay can provide on a massive short-term contract could be the big swing the 76ers need to make.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have searched the NBA over and over for a star-level player that they can add to make their status as contenders in the league ironclad. With rumors of big swing trades for Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Donovan Mitchell swirling around, Thompson could be a realistic free-agent candidate for the Warriors.
The Knicks have a very well-managed roster in terms of the salaries that they’re paying out. With Jalen Brunson on a declining contract and Randle looking like a steal deal on xx million per season, the Knicks could easily hand a massive short-term contract to Thompson to come and complete their backcourt next to Jalen Brunson.
This gives the team the playoff scoring and spacing they desperately need. It could vault their solid roster to remain competitive atop the east while maintaining all assets for a future superstar trade.
Los Angeles Lakers
The most natural destination for Klay will always be the Lakers. Not only is it still in California, it’s the team he supported growing up. Klay’s father is Laker legend Mychal Thompson, who still works for the franchise as a commentator. It would be a true homecoming for Thompson, who could join to give LeBron James one last co-star for a championship push next season.
The Lakers could figure out a sign-and-trade to give the Warriors a frontcourt player that Curry would play well with like Rui Hachimura or Jarred Vanderbilt, along with possibly a guard like Gabe Vincent. They could also trade these players elsewhere and just open up the room to offer Klay a deal.
With LeBron possibly leaving the Lakers next season, Thompson would be a great choice either way. If LeBron leaves, Klay can come in as a temporary win-now option to help space the floor next to Davis and the Lakers core we see this season. If James stays, Thompson plays with arguably the best playmaker he has ever seen and helps the Lakers contend by sinking wide-open buckets next to LBJ and Davis.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
