As the Golden State Warriors prepare for life without veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson, “there’s been no notable movement from either side toward a resolution,” per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.
“The Warriors maintain a desire to retain Thompson at the right price once other aspects of their roster retool get clarified,” Slater adds. “But they haven’t exactly been beating down his door to work out the framework for an extension (which can be signed at any time)…” At the other end of the negotiating table, Thompson “appears ready to test free-agency waters…”
Klay Thompson Appears Set to Test Free Agency For First Time
Thompson has played for the Warriors his entire career.
Drafted 11th overall in 2011, the California native made himself right at home in Golden State. A strong rookie campaign saw him averaging 12.5 points on 41.4 percent shooting from 3. From then on, his role ballooned, and he was a full-time starter. The premier 3-and-D wing in his prime, Thompson averaged 20.3 points per game from 2012-13 through 2017-18.
On offense, he was a quickdraw with deadly accuracy but he wasn’t afraid to punch it in. Defensively, he made defenders work to get around him or get a shot over him. Athletic, with a 6-foot-6 and 215-pound frame, he was extremely effective.
Nowadays, Thompson’s a shell of himself physically. He’ll never stop being an elite shooter though, and that’s what makes him such a valuable player. In the three years since an ACL and the Achilles injury kept him sidelined for two seasons, Thompson’s averaged 19.9 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting from 3. The 34-year-old currently ranks fourth all-time in career 3s, playoffs included (2,982).
Klay Thompson’s Potential Suitors
If Thompson does decide to become a free agent, multiple teams will have interest in him, namely the Orlando Magic. Indeed, the Magic have repeatedly been linked to the five-time All-Star, and the interest is mutual. Given their dearth of off-ball threats, they’re a sound option for Thompson, especially if they offer him a starting role.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers will also have interest in him.
Neither team necessarily needs a 3-point threat of Thompson’s caliber. Nonetheless, his shooting and stature solves different problems for them. In Oklahoma City, guard Josh Giddey’s future is limbo because he’s not a natural fit beside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As an upper echelon shooter, Thompson would be.
Frankly, the Sixers could opt to re-sign Buddy Hield, another historically great 3-point shooter. However, Thompson’s a more potent scorer than Hield and knows what it takes to win a championship. Four of them, in fact. Hield’s first taste of the playoffs came this year.
The Magic, Thunder, and Sixers are projected to have enough cap space to offer Thompson a substantial sum.
