According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, we should temper our expectations about Klay Thompson leaving Golden State as a free agent this summer.
Heading into the offseason, there is widespread speculation that the Golden State Warriors’ championship trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green might be split up this summer. While Curry is certain to stay, Green could be traded, and Thompson, as an unrestricted free agent, may be too expensive for the Warriors to retain.
Yet, the Warriors are the only NBA team Thompson knows, and while others would surely have interest in signing the five-time All-Star, Golden State may not be ready to move on either.
Some in the league believe that Golden State will eventually decide to keep the core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson together through the 2026-27 season. The Sixers could emerge as a dark horse candidate, though they might prefer Paul George, who is a stronger defender, especially since Thompson’s defensive performance has declined following his leg injuries.
Thompson has also been linked to the Orlando Magic this summer, but based on Pincus’ report, they might not get the chance to sign the four-time champion. Ultimately, the Warriors have a tight salary cap situation to worry about, so eventually there will be a price that they’re unable to pay, which might be how other teams entice Thompson with an offer too good to refuse.
