Warriors getting ready for Klay Thompson’s free agency departure

According to league insiders who spoke with The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors are getting ready to lose four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson to free agency. This is an anticipated conclusion to a storied dynasty and one of its legacy players.
Since the incumbent free agency negotiations began over two weeks ago, Thompson and the Warriors have seldom spoken, and no offer has been offered, according to league and club sources. The Warriors wanted to go back and talk with Thompson after taking care of other matters. However, he isn’t anticipated to be there waiting as a ready backup plan in their summer schedule, as he believes the Warriors’ phony desire for a reunion. Both parties feel their 13-year partnership is finished, and the five-time All-Star guard is determined to look for a new place to call home for his 14th NBA season and beyond, according to league sources.

League sources indicate that Thompson is anticipated to have significant suitors including the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, and Dallas Mavericks. It is anticipated that many clubs with salary cap room would express interest in Thompson as well. The Mavericks have created enough space to offer the whole anticipated $12.9 million midlevel to the market because to Tim Hardaway Jr.’s salary dump. The Lakers might make the same amount of money, depending on other business and the destination of LeBron James’ next contract.
Due to Thompson’s expected departure and Chris Paul’s possible exit from his $30 million non-guaranteed contract, Golden State is operating in the market as a full nontaxpayer midlevel exception team for the first time in about ten years, according to league sources. This removes $73.2 million from the team’s books.
According to those sources, the Warriors are willing to engage in a sign-and-trade with Thompson in order to increase his earning potential.
Given the lengthy history the Warriors have with Thompson, this split is shocking to many in the league. However, it has been going in this direction for a few seasons as Thompson’s role changed, his extension talks stalled, and the team missed the playoffs. The Warriors also extended Jordan Poole and drafted Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski as potential successors, and Thompson never felt appreciated by management for his solid position in the team’s plans, according to league sources.
That persisted all summer long. Although they’ve said that Thompson would need to wait for the right opportunity, play the right role, and pay the right price, the Warriors have maintained their public desire to retain him in the core.
They had been aggressively examining the trade market for the last two weeks in an attempt to improve the play of an underwhelming supporting cast around Stephen Curry. They had even made a remote attempt to sign free agent-to-be Paul George, a quest they now know is futile.
Sensing the chilly wind from the only team he had ever known, Thompson responded in kind by cutting off contact and making plans to play in the NBA somewhere else than the Bay Area.

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