Four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson could be on his way out of Golden State this summer. The Warriors and their star wing haven’t gotten close in contract negotiations, and although Thompson has publicly stated his desire to remain with the only NBA franchise he’s been a part of, a more significant role and a final massive payday are on the 34-year-old’s offseason wishlist.
According to recent reports, Klay is enticed by the possibility of joining an Eastern Conference upstart and its budding superstar, believing he could be a missing piece that would take that team from fun and interesting to a legitimate contender.
Klay Thompson intrigued by possibility of joining Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Klay has four rings. This iteration of the Orlando Magic, led by Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, has won three total playoff games. But that apparently isn’t stopping Thompson from picturing himself in a pinstriped jersey, and the Magic have the ability to make that a reality.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Orlando and Thompson seem to be sizing each other up as potential partners:
I’m told there is mutual interest between the Magic and Klay Thompson. Thompson, along with several other vets around the league, are looking at the Magic as a situation where if you plug in a guy like Klay Thompson, you plug in another veteran player, whether it be at the point guard position, the shooting guard position, this team can make a real jump.
Banchero made the All-Star team in his second NBA season and is one of the league’s rising stars. The 21-year-old forward is coming off a seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in which he averaged 27.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals on 46/40/76 shooting splits.
Thompson scored 17.9 points per game on .432/.387/.927 shooting in 77 games for Golden State – the most he’s played since the 2019-20 season. He’s not the same player he was in his prime, but he’s still a legitimate catch-and-shoot threat who would space the floor for Banchero and give the young Magic some much-needed veteran experience.
The Warriors might not let Thompson walk out of the Chase Center doors, but if Orlando offers more money and the role Klay is looking for, his long-time run in Golden State could come to an end this summer.
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