While he believes that Klay Thompson will ultimately remain in Golden State and eventually retire as a member of the Warriors, Marc Stein writes at Substack that the Magic have been “increasingly mentioned” as a potential suitor for the veteran sharpshooter, who is eligible to reach unrestricted free agency this summer.
Thompson is eligible to sign an extension with the Warriors at any time between now and June 30, but if the two sides don’t reach an agreement by then, he’ll become a free agent and would be able to sign with any team.
While it’s hard to imagine Thompson ending up with the Magic, they’re well positioned to put some pressure on the Warriors — with Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris on expiring contracts and Joe Ingles, Moritz Wagner, and Jonathan Isaac not on guaranteed contracts for 2024/25, Orlando could generate a significant amount of cap room in the offseason.
Here’s more from Stein:
- Despite a belief that Alex Caruso was essentially off-limits at this month’s trade deadline, the Bulls gave “real consideration” to the possibility of moving him before trade talks with the Warriors collapsed, Stein writes.
- Stein also confirms that Chicago and Sixers had serious discussions about an Andre Drummond deal, but hears from one league source that the Bulls were only willing to move Drummond if they were able to line up another center to replace him. When no such opportunity materialized, they decided to hang onto Drummond.
- There’s a sense that the Hawks will make a trade involving one of their starting guards – Trae Young and Dejounte Murray – sooner rather than later. “They know they have to trade one or the other,” one source told Stein.
- While Mike Budenholzer‘s name has been mentioned in league circles as a possibility for the Nets‘ permanent head coaching job, Stein suggests that Budenholzer could very well be a top candidate for multiple jobs this spring, so he has reason to be patient to see how the head coaching market plays out.
The Chicago front office is run by clowns if they really didn’t trade their back-up center because they could find a center to replace him when they’re under .500 and their best player is out for the year.
I am not saying their front office isn’t clowns because it has to be a bottom 5 front office, but this team is better off without Lavine and his extension is the biggest reason they are clowns.
Nah, Klay Thompson will not sign with nobody else but the Warriors.
Klay isn’t leaving the west coast. If signs with another team it will be with one of the LA teams.
I would actually cry if Klay left Golden State
Stay patient Coach Bud. The Milwaukee job might be open this spring.
Giannis to GS?
When? Are you aware of his contract extension? Methinks not.
Dropping a “methinks” in 2024 should be a felony
I once heard that a woman divorced her husband, because he said ‘methinks’ out loud.