{"id":76393,"date":"2024-05-06T13:02:50","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T17:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=76393"},"modified":"2024-05-06T13:03:28","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T17:03:28","slug":"nba-free-agency-klay-thompson-eyeing-magic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/06\/nba-free-agency-klay-thompson-eyeing-magic\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Rumors: Warriors\u2019 Splash Brother Eyeing Upstart East Team?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr considers what <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/04\/25\/steve-kerrs-mindset-as-end-of-warriors-dynasty-approaches\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">the end of their dynasty<\/a> could look like, one core player is already window shopping, eyeing what could be his new home.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday morning, The Athletic\u2019s Shams Charania made his usual appearance on Run It Back, dropping a bombshell on the co-hosts in a way that only few can.<\/p>\n<h2>Klay Thompson Eyeing Orlando Magic?<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m told there is mutual interest between the (Orlando) Magic and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/thompkl01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Klay Thompson<\/a>,\u201d Charania reports.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">&#8220;The Magic can open up an excess of sixty million dollars in cap space this off season&#8230;One name to keep an eye on, Klay Thompson, I&#8217;m told there is mutual interest between the Magic and Klay Thompson.&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@ShamsCharania<\/a> on the Magic&#8217;s future plans.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oxMs3CAEGu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/oxMs3CAEGu<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ENhJn68hmM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ENhJn68hmM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RunItBackFDTV\/status\/1787486905514561642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThompson \u2014along with several other vets around the league \u2014are looking at the Magic as a situation where if you plug in a guy like Klay Thompson, you plug in another veteran player \u2013 whether it be at the point guard position (or) the shooting guard position \u2013 this team can make a real jump around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/banchpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paolo Banchero<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wagnefr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Franz Wagner<\/a>,\u201d he continues.<\/p>\n<h3>No Surprise Here<\/h3>\n<p>The Magic <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/02\/20\/nba-rumors-eastern-conference-team-pursuing-klay-thompson\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">have been linked to<\/a> Thompson for months. With deep pockets, a superb defense, and a need for a first-rate shooter, it\u2019s only natural. Though he\u2019s 34 years old and no longer in his prime, Thompson is a transcendent 3-point threat.<\/p>\n<p>Over the course of his 11-year career, Thompson has made 41.3 percent of his 3s. In the three seasons since sustaining two consecutive major lower body injuries, he\u2019s hit 39.7 percent of his 3s. Thompson ranks seventh among active players in career 3-point percentage and 20th all-time. He ranks fourth among active players in career 3-pointers (2,481). He also ranks fourth all-time in career 3s (playoffs included) with 2,982. When factoring in both his efficiency and proficiency, the only active player who is a better 3-point shooter is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/curryst01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stephen Curry<\/a> himself.<\/p>\n<p>If comparing him to the best 3-point threats of all-time, he bears some similarities to Hall of Fame shooting guard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/allenra02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ray Allen<\/a>. That said, Thompson can become the Allen to Banchero\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/piercpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paul Pierce<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James<\/a>. Like Pierce or James, Banchero\u2019s rise to stardom is as much about his scoring punch as his playmaking and poise. One of four players in franchise history to make their All-Star debut before turning 22 years old, Banchero has proven himself to be <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/04\/26\/coach-k-no-1-pick-one-of-the-ultimate-positionless-players\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">an MVP-caliber player<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In his playoff debut, Banchero went toe-to-toe with five-time All-Star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mitchdo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Donovan Mitchell<\/a> in a hard-fought seven-game series. With his versatility, physicality, and willpower, he averaged 27.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 45.6 percent shooting from the field and 40.0 percent from 3. What is that if not the type of player that could win MVP one day?<\/p>\n<p>That said, while Banchero was on point from beyond the arc, many of his teammates weren\u2019t. The Magic shot just 30.9 percent from 3 in the First Round. Aside from Banchero, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/isaacjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jonathan Isaac<\/a> was the only other rotation player to shoot above league-average from 3. Notably, Isaac will become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.<\/p>\n<h3>A Personal Tour Guide<\/h3>\n<p>Again, there\u2019s no question about why Orlando has interest in Thompson. That\u2019s without even getting into his championship experience and the lessons that he can impart. However, now that it\u2019s been mentioned, Thompson\u2019s intangibles are invaluable. There are only six active players that know what a dynasty team looks like. Four (Curry, Thompson, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/greendr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Draymond Green<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/looneke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevon Looney<\/a>) play for the Warriors. Two \u2014James and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leonaka01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kawhi Leonard<\/a> \u2014are nearing the ends of their careers. Only one, Thompson, will be available this summer.<\/p>\n<p>If the Magic want their own personal tour guide for the path to winning an NBA championship, he\u2019s the only one that can help them.<\/p>\n<h3>Why Mutual?<\/h3>\n<p>Some may wonder why Thompson would leave. More specifically, the question is, \u2018Why the Magic?\u2019 The simple answer is value.<\/p>\n<p>The Magic will make Thompson feel valued with a lucrative contract offer. Thompson will feel valued if he\u2019s also offered a starting role, which he lost with the Warriors. Lastly, Thompson will feel valued knowing that Orlando isn\u2019t trying to replace him. Golden State has attempted to do so with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wiggian01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrew Wiggins<\/a>, who was acquired while Thompson was sidelined and then transformed into a 3-and-D wing. This season, rookie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/podzibr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandin Podziemski<\/a> started 28 games on the wing as a rookie, shooting 38.5 percent from 3.<\/p>\n<p>So rather than playing for a team on its last legs that\u2019s losing sight of his value, he\u2019ll be playing for one that\u2019s on the come up and recognizes it.<\/p>\n<p>If he\u2019s going to Orlando, he\u2019ll get to bring his boat too. Though that may seem like a joke, Thompson had found respite from in the form of boating. For someone like Thompson, more of a sensitive personality that wears his heart on the sleeve, having such an outlet is for the best.<\/p>\n<p>It also doesn\u2019t hurt that the weather in Central Florida should be pretty close to what it is in the Bay.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr considers what the end of their dynasty could look like, one core player is already window shopping, eyeing what could be his new home. On Monday morning, The Athletic\u2019s Shams Charania made his usual appearance on Run It Back, dropping a bombshell on the co-hosts in a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":76409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25,1608,62,3,17],"tags":[70,297],"class_list":["post-76393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-warriors","category-basketball","category-nba","category-news","category-magic","tag-klay-thompson","tag-nba-free-agency"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76393\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}