Sports
NBA Rumors: Klay Thompson to Leave Warriors in Free Agency; Lakers, Clippers Linked – Bleacher Report
The Golden State Warriors “are preparing to lose” Klay Thompson in free agency, Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported for The Athletic.
The Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks could pursue the Warriors veteran in free agency, according to Slater and Charania.
Thompson and the Warriors “have had close to no communication” for almost two weeks, and the team has not made Thompson an offer, Charania and Slater reported.
The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami added that the Warriors and Thompson have been “so prepared” for his departure that “some cordial goodbyes have been shared between Klay and high-ranking members of the Warriors’ organization.”
The No. 11 pick of the 2011 draft, Thompson has played all 11 of his NBA seasons with the Warriors. He won four titles with the franchise between 2015 and 2022.
Sources previously told NBA insider Marc Stein that tensions had increased in negotiations between the Warriors and Thompson because the team had “prioritized” pursuing trade targets like Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George over re-signing Thompson.
It no longer looks like George is heading to San Francisco. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday that George is declining his player option and hitting free agency, likely pricing him out of the Warriors’ range.
Even with the Warriors likely to miss out on George, Slater and Charania similarly reported that the Warriors’ trade moves inhibited their negotiations with Thompson.
“The Warriors, after other business, have wanted to circle back and negotiate with Thompson,” The Athletic reporters wrote. “But he isn’t expected to be there waiting as a willing secondary priority in their summer plan, with his side feeling that the Warriors’ interest in a reunion has been disingenuous.”
Slater and Charania concluded: “The five-time All-Star guard is determined to find a new home elsewhere for his 14th NBA season and beyond, with both sides believing their 13-year run together is over, league sources said.”
Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists through 77 games last season as he at times came off the bench for the Warriors for the first time since his rookie 2011-12 campaign. He shot 43.2 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from deep.
Either Los Angeles team or Dallas will now hope a change of scenery will lead to a jump in Thompson’s three-point shooting next season.
Thompson would join LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the Lakers, where he would fit in as an off-ball talent in the team’s big three. He could step in to replace George with the Clippers, or Tim Hardaway Jr. for the Mavericks.
Whatever his free agency decision, it sounds like both sides are all but certain Thompson has played his last game for the Warriors.