Report: Klay Thompson, Magic Have Mutual Interest

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Orlando Magic and Klay Thompson have mutual interest. 

Thompson becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

The Magic lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games.

"The Magic can open up an excess of sixty million dollars in cap space this off season…One name to keep an eye on, Klay Thompson, I'm told there is mutual interest between the Magic and Klay Thompson."@ShamsCharania on the Magic's future plans.

📺: https://t.co/oxMs3CAEGu pic.twitter.com/ENhJn68hmM

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 6, 2024

The Golden State Warriors didn’t make the playoffs this year. They lost the 9-10 play-in game to the Sacramento Kings. 

One of the best shooters in NBA history, Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists this season while shooting 43.2% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 92.7% from the free-throw line. 

According to NBA insider Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, the Magic might offer Thompson “a ton of money” this summer. 

“One of the worst-kept secrets in the league is that Orlando, loaded with young talent but not with shooters, might offer Klay a ton of money next summer,” Kawakami wrote. “Meanwhile, Joe Lacob has said the Warriors want to get all the way out of the luxury tax next summer, which is possible, but only if they are very disciplined about how much they’re willing to pay to keep Klay (and/or CP3).”

The Warriors drafted Thompson with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Washington State. Thompson has made five All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams and one All-Defensive team with Golden State. 

Thompson has often said he wants to retire with the Warriors, who have won four championships in the Thompson-Stephen Curry–Draymond Green era. Even though Thompson is not the player he once was, it would shock numerous people around the NBA if the Warriors didn’t re-sign the sharpshooter. 

“Klay’s not going anywhere,” one NBA executive predicted while chatting with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “The Warriors can’t let him walk. He’s a four-time champion, and they can’t really replace him. At some point, if a player isn’t getting the job done and still wants to play as he gets older, you’d come off the bench, and he’s doing that while playing better. Maybe they tie his deal to Steph’s. Klay’s value is in the $20-25 million range.”