The Golden State Warriors are losing Klay Thompson in free agency, according to sources close to The Athletic. It appears both parties expect Thompson to join another team this offseason.
Initially, the Warriors planned to revisit Thompson with a contract offer after exploring other trade options. However, it seems Thompson isn’t willing to wait for their proposal. He is determined to find a new team.
Since the negotiating period began almost two weeks ago, there has been minimal communication between Thompson and the Warriors, and no offer has been made.
WHERE WILL KLAY END UP?
Among the teams likely to pursue Thompson are the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks have enough cap space to offer Thompson the full midlevel exception. The Lakers could also offer this if LeBron James agrees to take less than his maximum salary.
LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, has publicly stated that James is willing to take a lower deal if it helps the Lakers sign a significant player for the midlevel exception.
The Warriors are open to a sign-and-trade deal to assist Thompson in securing the type of contract he desires with his preferred team.
Thompson, represented by Greg Lawrence, recently completed a five-year, $190 million contract signed in 2019 after tearing his ACL in Game 6 of The Finals. Last season, Thompson played in 77 games, averaging 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range.
