The Magic have been cited as a potential suitor for Klay Thompson in free agency this summer, and it sounds as if their interest won’t be unrequited. Shams Charania of The Athletic suggested today during an appearance on FanDuel’s Run it Back show (Twitter video link) that Thompson is intrigued by Orlando.
“I’m told there is mutual interest between the Magic and Klay Thompson,” Charania said. “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 (or) the shooting guard position – this team can make a real jump around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.”
As Charania notes, the Magic are in position to create a significant chunk of cap room in order to go shopping for scoring and shooting help this offseason. Bobby Marks of ESPN suggested (via Twitter) that Orlando will have about $32MM in cap room even if the team opts to pick up team options and guarantee salaries for Jonathan Isaac, Joe Ingles, Moritz Wagner, and Caleb Houstan. The club’s cap space would increase further if any of those players are let go.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports stated last month that the Magic are expected to look at free agents like Thompson and Malik Monk this offseason, while Tim Kawakami of The Athletic said around the same time that Orlando’s willingness to potentially offer the longtime Warriors sharpshooter a significant amount of money is one of the league’s “worst-kept secrets.”
If Thompson is legitimately interested in joining the Magic, as Charania suggests, the possibility of his departure from the Warriors looks much more viable. It’s worth noting that the 34-year-old has repeatedly said his preference is to remain with Golden State, so Orlando and other suitors could ultimately be used for leverage purposes. But role and salary are expected to be serious considerations for Thompson, and the Magic are well positioned to make a strong pitch on both fronts.
Thompson averaged 17.9 points per game on .432/.387/.927 shooting in 77 appearances for the Warriors this season. He was removed from the team’s starting lineup for 14 games in February and March before being reinserted into that group down the stretch.
Thompson remains eligible to sign an extension with the Warriors up until June 30, which could keep him off the free agent market. However, he reportedly passed on a two-year, $48MM offer prior to the season and there has been no indication that the two sides have had serious discussions as of late.
Thompson at 2 years, 60 million makes sense. Anything beyond that is an overpay.
I want some of what you’re smoking.
Half that maybe.
Thompson is a Warrior or so insisted co-owner Joe Lacob…
If Klay wants to be delusional about his next contract it’s not on the Warriors to overpay simply because of a quote from ownership. Paying for over the hill allstars of 5 years ago is how you end up with a team like the Knicks tbe majority of the last 20 years.
Would be a mistake for the Magic to sign Thompson. The Magic should have an excellent young nucleus. Why sign ‘over the hill’ overpriced FAs?
Because young guys need veterans who have been there and done that. Teach them how to be come true professionals of their craft. Take their god given gifts to the next level. Teach them what playoff basketball is about.
Vets like Ingles ok not a $30M Klay
That is what the coach and his many assistant coaches are for. The Magic had enough veterans, Carter, Ingles, Fultz, Harris, Isaac, Moritz Wagner. A lot of good it did to have veterans for the Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Suns.
Because if not them how do they upgrade? Trades may or may not line up and, of course, would cost assets. The big names will have stiffer competition and may require an overpay. And quality FA options who fit are limited in general.
I’m not saying they should throw money around, but someone like Klay hopefully would not be too expensive on a 1-2 year deal. Not a priority, but a possible option at the right price.
Would be stupid to be targeting Klay for Orlando, much better options out there.
Yeah, but they have to convince someone to sign with them over any other team. Klay is a realistic target.
You say there are better options but as far as a backcourt player that they wouldn’t have to give up trade assets for I can’t think of many. In free agency the only realistic target that would definitely be a better option is DeRozan. I don’t think George or Harden are leaving L.A. As far as Monk? He isn’t clearly better. Russell is a possibility but he’s just as inconsistent as Thompson was last season and doesn’t have near the resume. Anybody else like Brown or Anunoby will most likely be retained by their current team.
Klay had terrible postseason for 3 conscutive seasons. This year as a starter he had ZERO points in Play In game. :(
A change of scenery might be exactly what the doctor ordered. Remove himself from the pressure of living up to prime Klay along side Green and Curry, and instead just focus on the situation at hand. As much as I don’t want to see Klay anywhere else… if they could work out a sign and trade with Isaac…
Good fit would be Klay Thompson in ORL. However, I consider Isaac an instrumental part of their corr, and wouldn’t trade him.
Even more, I’d rather trade Franz Wagner (who would fetch a bigger return than Isaac) than him.
Magic should be patient, next year fa class is much better, especially young players coming from rookie contracts. They should target Trey Murphy, also Kuminga if gets available
So they should be patient and wait a year to target players that will be retained by the team they are currently with?
It’s not like Klay is likely to break the bank and at best he’ll get a two-year deal, if that.
Agreed. Just be patient. Don’t panic and ruin the bright future with bad signings.
You could just take Brogdon’s salary on for a pick and resign him, why would you get Klay? This is agent talk trying to get Klay more money.
I want Klay gone. But if I am Klay, I would accept 2 yr $25m contract with player option from Warriors. He would not only give team financial flexibility, but it ensures that he can retire as a Warrior. He still would be making more endorsements as a Warriors and more opportunities in post retirement. Age gracefully rather than “entitled” spoiled brat like most athletes….
I hate people that come in sports platform to call athletes brats and entitled. Obviously they worked hard to be a professional. So they are just in their thought that they deserve the best. I’m sure you don’t go into work requesting a paycut every fiscal year. Just because his pay scale is different from yours doesn’t entitle you to act like a brat towards athletes. He’s just working. And if an employer decides to pay for his services then so be it. Not a great idea to dole out heavy contracts to certain players but that doesn’t make them entitled or brats.
Monk would be the best choice.
Agreed. Monk is similar to what Vinnie Johnson was for Detroit way back then. The Microwave. Monk is 26 years old the prime years.
GSW sweating bullet here hoping he leaves on his own accord.
hmm, is Orlando gonna be cool with 11+ (1 was ejection) games < 10 points scoring? 20+ games where he shoots < 25% 3pt at 8+ attempts?
if Orlando thinks they're buying prime Klay and wants to offer him more than what GS offered Klay last fall, then we'll really see if Klay wants to be a warrior for life or if that was all talk.
he has lost a step, can't guard the fast wing players anymore. too slow. he's also not strong enough to guard the bigger wings. reason Dubs struggle on defense is because Klay can't compensate for Steph and together they can't stop the point of attack.
if he goes to ORL and has an up and down year and gets exposed again in the playoff's it's going to ruin his legacy. When he was injured 2 years he was getting paid max contract $$, so…
gonna see the business side of the NBA.
I think Orlando Magic FO are fooling everybody, they will not sign Klay or PG13, they will go for somebody cheaper and younger maybe a trade with Miami for Duncan Robinson or Toronto’s Immanuel Quicley or Gary Trent Jr., perhaps somebody with more experience like Trae Young or DeMar DeRozan.
Klay is using ORL & Shams as a leverage to pressure Lacob.
Why would Lacob feel pressure? If anything he is probably secretly hoping that Orlando makes an offer that the Warriors can say would not make sense for them to match.
With the 18 pick from USC the Orlando Magic select Bronny James
He’s gone. The only question is will the Magic overpay for him? Hopefully not, but Klay’s likely not going to be too thrilled by the lower offers he gets in FA.
Take him PLEASE
Klay was offered 2Y / 48M and TURNED IT DOWN?????
Klay is delusional bc that’s extremely generous by the Warriors relative to the player he is now.
Related: Donte DiVincenzo was Klay’s backup last year and got 4 Y / 47M with the Knicks – there’s a reason why the Warriors are in the spot they’re in – clinging to the past will sabotage your internal growth.
Is that contract offer still on the table? Can’t imagine that the offer is still possible. Obviously Thompson should have ran to sign that contract.
2025 Shooting Guard Salaries (in Millions)
50.2 Bradley Beal (this Klay’s idol maybe?)
49.3 Devin Booker
40.0 Kyrie Irving
35.3 Anthony Edwards
34.9 Donovan Mitchell
34.0 Desmond Bane
29.0 Tyler Herro
25.9 Anfernee Simons
25.5 DeJounte Murray
24.0 KLAY TURNED THIS DOWN
19.3 Derrick White
18.1 Collin Sexton
16.3 Kevin Huerter
15.6 Grayson Allen
15.4 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Player Option)
13.0 Austin Reaves
13.0 Herb Jones
11.5 Donte DiVincenzo