The NBA draft has ended after two days of selections. The next major day on the NBA calendar is quickly approaching. On June 30, free agency will start around the league, and it appears that big stars will be on the move—perhaps none more so than Klay Thompson.
As June 30 approaches, sources say Thompson’s chances of leaving the Golden State Warriors are increasing by the day. The question then becomes where the shooting guard will go if he leaves the only organisation he has ever known.
On Friday, Sam Amick and Anthony Slater wrote a comprehensive piece for The Athletic that was jam-packed with information on the top free agency storylines. Regarding Thompson, the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly interested in his services.
“A league source said Philadelphia has interest in Thompson,” Amick and Slater wrote. “If the Nuggets lose free-agent-to-be Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has decided to decline his player option and enter the market, a league source said Denver has pegged Thompson as a possible replacement.”
The Nuggets are the most intriguing inclusion. They are not likely to be in the running for players who demand exorbitant salaries, such as Thompson, because the organisation has already agreed to pay Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., and Jamal Murray $123 million together next season. There isn’t much money left over to give free agents.
However, as previously stated, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s decision to join free agency changes things. That removes his $15.4 million salary from the books for next season. It doesn’t allow Denver to throw money at the best players available, but it does open the door to obtaining someone like Thompson through a sign-and-trade.
The Sixers are less surprising. Philly is publicly looking for a third high-caliber star to combine with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey before signing Maxey to a max contract extension. Paul George has long been a popular connector, but Thompson provides comparable on-court benefits. He also has a more serious injury history, and the overall consensus is far worse on him than George following the way last season finished for both players.
The Thompson sweepstakes are shaping out to be very exciting.