The Golden State Warriors are preparing to lose four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson in free agency, an expected split between a legendary dynasty and one of its storied players, league sources told The Athletic.
Thompson and the Warriors have had almost no communication since the negotiating period for starting free agents opened nearly two weeks ago and no offers have been made, team and league sources said. The Warriors, after other issues, wanted to back down and negotiate with Thompson. But he’s not expected to be there waiting as a voluntary secondary priority in their summer plan, as his team feels the Warriors’ interest in a reunion has been disingenuous. The five-time All-Star point guard is determined to find a new home elsewhere for his 14th NBA season and beyond, and both sides believe their 13-year career together is over, league sources said.
The Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks are expected to be among the strong suitors for Thompson, according to league sources. Several teams with salary-cap space are also expected to show interest in Thompson. Through the salary-cap drop of Tim Hardaway Jr., the Mavericks have already generated enough cap space to offer the full projected mid-tier of $12.9 million on the market. The Lakers have the ability to generate the same, depending on where LeBron James’ next deal and other deals land.
Golden State is operating on the market as a non-taxable, mid-level exception team for the first time in about a decade due to Thompson’s early departure and Chris Paul’s possible departure from a $30 million non-guaranteed deal, sources said. of the league, which throws $73.2 million off its books.
The Warriors are open to entering into a sign-and-trade deal with Thompson to help him increase his earning potential, those sources said.
This split is a huge surprise around the league given the deep history between the Warriors and Thompson, but it has been trending in this direction for a couple of seasons as Thompson’s extension talks stalled, his role changed, the team failed to make the playoffs, the Warriors drafted (Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski) and extended (Jordan Poole) potential replacements under him and he never felt any reciprocal love from management over his firm place in the franchise’s plans, league sources said.
That continued through this summer. The Warriors maintained their stated desire to keep Thompson as part of the team, but made it clear that it would have to be for the right price, in the right role and that he would have to wait for the right time.
In a desperate search to upgrade the talent of an underperforming supporting cast around Stephen Curry, they had spent the past few weeks actively exploring the trade market, including an unlikely pursuit of free agent-to-be Paul George — a pursuit the team knows is now dead.
Thompson, feeling the cold wind blowing from the only franchise he’s ever known, responded in kind, limiting communication and planning for an NBA future outside of the Bay Area. Currently, both sides are operating as if their 13-year relationship is over.
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