Is it the end of a period for the Golden State Warriors? Golden State Warriors?
Warriors star Klay Thompson may leave the Bay area this summer and go to Disney World, as per a report by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
“The [Orlando] Magic can open up over $60 million in cap space this offseason. “There are gonna be players when you think about free agency and other moves that can be made. In Game 7, the Magic had trouble scoring the ball, especially in the second half when the [Cleveland Cavaliers] and Donovan Mitchell was relentless. So you look at the point guard position, shooting, and scoring on the wing. Klay Thompson is a name to keep an eye on.
During Game 7, the Magic were on track to advance to the second round of the playoffs when they led by 18 points in the first half. But their offense struggled in the second half and they suffered the largest Game 7 comeback in history.
Plug-and-Play Klay
Despite a less successful season for Thompson, the Magic sees him as a veteran player who could help them avoid the second half mishap in Game 7 and build on their breakout season – their first playoff appearance of their young core under coach Jamahl Mosley.
Thompson shares the same view.
“Thompson, along with other veterans around the league, sees the Magic as a situation where adding a player like Klay Thompson and another veteran player could significantly improve the team, particularly around Paulo Banchero and Franz Wagner,” Charania added. “Both players have the potential to excel, and with additional shooting and scoring, this Orlando team could reach a new level.”
The Magic finished last in 3-pointers made this season, averaging only 11.0 per game. In the playoffs, they did worse, sinking only 10.3 against the Cavaliers.
Thompson could help them in that area. The former five-time All-Star has a 41.3% career 3-point shooting average, and this season, he averaged 3.5 3s per game despite his varying role on a contract year.
‘We Need Klay Back’
Warriors coach Steve Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. expressed their desire to have Thompson back for next season after their disappointing play-in exit.
“We need Klay back,” Kerr told reporters after their 118-94 play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings on April 16. “He’s still got good years left. And I know I speak for everybody in the organization: We want him back. … What Klay has meant to this franchise and as good as he still is, we desperately want him back.”
Dunleavy believes that Thompson also wants to remain with the team he has only played for in the NBA.
“I believe he feels the same way,” Dunleavy expressed. said on April 18. “The man has been with the team for a long time, he is very important to the organization. We really appreciate him, so there’s nothing that would make me think that he wants to go somewhere else or we don’t want him back. For that reason, I’m hopeful we can make it happen, but it’s a deal. Both sides have to be good with it, and we’ll work through that.”
But with the Warriors unwilling to pay a luxury tax for a non-playoff team, it remains to be seen whether Thompson would be open to returning on a reasonable contract or be dismissed by Magic’s offer of one last big payday and competing in the playoffs in a weaker conference.
