Klay Thompson Interested In Leaving Warriors For Magic

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Klay Thompson is interested in leaving the Golden State Warriors for the Orlando Magic. 

One of the best shooters in NBA history, Thompson becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. 

“Thompson is one of the most high-profile names on the market and his future with the Warriors remains unsettled,” Charania and Slater wrote. “For the first time in Thompson’s career, he has shown an appetite to explore external options. There remains mutual interest between Thompson and the Magic, according to league sources. The Warriors have made clear they want to bring Thompson back at the right price and in the right role.”

Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists this season for the Warriors while shooting 43.2% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 92.7% from the free-throw line.

Golden State missed the playoffs after losing the 9-10 play-in game to the Sacramento Kings. 

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 the Warriors. He has helped the franchise win four championships. 

Thompson has career averages of 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He turns 35 next season. The Magic are expected to offer Thompson a massive contract in free agency. 

A future Hall of Famer, Thompson will join the Bahamian national basketball team for its training camp in Houston this week. However, he is not expected to get clearance and compete for the Bahamas in the Olympic qualifier this summer.

Thompson, who won a gold medal with Team USA in 2016, would need to receive an official release from USA Basketball and approval from FIBA to be cleared to play in the Olympic qualifiers and further competition for Team Bahamas, which isn’t expected to happen.