The Philadelphia 76ers acknowledge that if they don’t add a difference-maker to their team before the 2024-25 NBA season, their prospects of winning the title in an improved Eastern Conference will be slim.
That’s why they’re reportedly focusing their attention on Golden State Warriors standout Klay Thompson. The four-time champion is nearing the end of his contract and will be eligible for free agency this summer.
Thompson will be 35 years old next year, but he still one of the league’s best three-and-D players. As a result, the 76ers are considering providing him a one-plus-one contract similar to Bruce Brown’s with the Indiana Pacers, according to Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Jake Fischer.
Thompson had his lowest scoring season since 2012-13, averaging 17.9 points per game on 43.2% shooting from the field. He remained one of the top three-point shooters in the league, connecting at 38.7 percent from downtown.
This was only the second time in his career that the California native shot less than 40 percent from deep, so there’s plenty of reason to believe he can do it again. Thompson also topped the league in free throw percentage, making 92.7 percent of his attempts at the line.
Thompson has a vacant spot in the Sixers’ starting lineup and is on the team’s payroll. Tyrese Maxey, a 2024 All-Star, returned to point guard for Philadelphia this season after James Harden was transferred to the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the season, where he shared ball-handling duties with DeAnthony Melton and mid-season newcomer Kyle Lowry.
Thompson would improve a Sixers squad that finished with the fifth-lowest three-point percentage (12.1 3PM) and the 18th-fastest tempo (98.17). In terms of contracts, the 76ers only have Joel Embiid and Paul Reed signed until 2024-25. With approximately $61 million in cap space, they will have $80 million available to make many roster upgrades.
Thompson earned $43.2 million in 2023-24 and will not make anywhere near that amount on his next contract, whether with Golden State or another team. If Philadelphia wants to set the standard for other clubs to follow, they may offer him a one-plus-one deal worth just less than $30 million per year.
Despite missing the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Warriors have a roster that is anticipated to compete for years to come. As a result, the franchise will most certainly match any lucrative offers Thompson receives. If the Sixers can convince him, they will have an All-Defensive player who, with his nuclear offensive arsenal, has the potential to reverse their team’s long-standing postseason difficulties.