Klay Thompson is coming off arguably the worst period of his NBA job, but he is even now anticipated to get a great deal of desire when he hits free of charge agency this offseason. On Monday, the basketball earth received the first hints of that interest.
Shams Charania documented for The Athletic that Thompson and the Orlando Magic are exhibiting “mutual curiosity” as the offseason promptly ways. The Magic had been removed from the NBA playoffs on Sunday by the Cleveland Cavaliers, when Thompson’s season ended in the perform-in tournament at the arms of the Sacramento Kings.
Thompson and the Magic have designed feeling as a pairing for a even though now. The previous All-NBA taking pictures guard is no lengthier the participant he was and often hurt the Golden State Warriors’ odds to get in the course of the 2023-’24 year. Even so, even in a down year by his benchmarks, Thompson even now shot 38.7% from 3 level assortment on 9. attempts per game.
That amount of capturing would change Orlando’s offense. The only Magic player everywhere in close proximity to Thompson’s accuracy and attempts for each game previous year was Jalen Suggs, who made 39.7% of his 5.1 three point tries per recreation. The organization’s two stars, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, both of those shot beneath 34 % from beyond the arc. The simple fact that the Magic managed to acquire the Cleveland Cavaliers to 7 games in the opening round of this year’s postseason despite capturing 30.9% from 3 as a team during the sequence is, frankly, very outstanding.
The fit tends to make perfect feeling. The concern, of system, is irrespective of whether Thompson would actually depart the Warriors. He produced $43.2 million this earlier season and will wrestle to come across any group inclined to pay out him that much likely ahead. From the appears of reviews like Charania’s, groups like Orlando will be ready to spend additional than Golden State in order to steal Thompson absent from the only team he’s ever recognized.
The choice, then, will probably arrive down to whether or not Thompson needs to stay in the Bay or get compensated. As observed earlier mentioned the Magic will have oodles of cap place to utilize and could shell out the four-time NBA winner quite a bit. Most likely more than what his output phone calls for, but nevertheless truly worth it mainly because the Magic require taking pictures and veteran management extra than everything. But in some cases no quantity of funds can pry a player from his longtime dwelling. Thompson may possibly flirt with other groups in cost-free company in buy to protected some leverage about the Warriors.
Free agency will not start out until eventually July so there is lots of time for points to transform. But with the season over this feels like the first indication we’ve gotten that Thompson might definitely depart the Warriors for a group like the Magic. Strange to consider.
