Veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson is leaving the Warriors, the only franchise he’s known in his 13 NBA seasons, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium (Twitter link).
According to Charania, the two sides are set to begin exploring sign-and-trade options for the five-time All-Star. Sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Thompson will talk to the Mavericks, Lakers, Clippers and Sixers with free agency officially underway (Twitter link).
The 11th pick of the 2011 draft, Thompson is one of the most accomplished shooters in league history, ranking sixth all-time in three-pointers made. He has knocked down 41.3% of his attempts from long distance over the course of his career.
The second “splash brother” next to Stephen Curry, Thompson played a key role in helping Golden State win four championships during his tenure with the team. Earlier in his career, he made a couple of All-NBA Third Team appearances, plus an All-Defensive Second Team nod back in 2018/19.
However, a torn ACL and a torn Achilles tendon cost Thompson two full seasons during his prime. While he has remained one of the NBA’s top three-point marksmen since he returned from those injuries in January 2022, he doesn’t have the same athleticism or defensive versatility he once did.
Thompson, who earned $43.2MM in 2023/24 during the final year of his max contract, reportedly turned down a two-year, $48MM extension from Golden State before last season began. Talks between the two sides went quiet leading up to free agency, which is always an ominous sign.
More to come…