Warriors Prepare to Lose Klay Thompson in Free Agency: Sources

The Golden State Warriors are preparing to lose four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson in free agency, league sources said, an expected parting of ways between a legendary dynasty and one of its longtime players. The athlete.

Thompson and the Warriors have had little contact since the negotiating period opened for current free agents nearly two weeks ago and no offer has been made, team and league sources said. The Warriors, after other business, wanted to return and negotiate with Thompson. But he is not expected to be a secondary priority in their summer plan, with his team feeling the Warriors’ interest in a reunion was disingenuous. League sources said the five-time All-Star guard is determined to find a new home elsewhere for his 14th NBA season and beyond, with both sides believing their 13-year career together is over.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks are expected to be among the strong candidates to land Thompson, according to league sources. Several teams with salary cap space are expected to express interest in Thompson as well. By shedding Tim Hardaway Jr.’s salary, the Mavericks have already created enough cap space to offer the full mid-range player the expected $12.9 million on the market. The Lakers have the potential to generate the same amount, depending on where the next LeBron James deal is and what else works out.

Golden State is in the market as a full mid-level non-taxpayer exception team for the first time in nearly a decade due to the expected departure of Thompson and the potential departure of Chris Paul’s $30 million non-guaranteed deal, which lost $73.2 million, league sources said. . A million of his books.

The Warriors are open to participating in a sign-and-trade for Thompson to help his earning potential, sources said.

That split is something that’s pretty surprising around the league, given the deep history between the Warriors and Thompson, but it’s been trending in that direction for several seasons. As Thompson’s extension talks stall, his role changes, and the team fails to make the playoffs, league sources said the Warriors have drafted ( Moses Moody, Brandin Podzemski) and Jordan Paul have extended potential replacements under him and he has never felt reciprocated love from management regarding his firm place in the franchise’s plans.

That continued into this summer. The Warriors maintained their outward desire to keep Thompson as a core part of the team, but made it clear that he had to come at the right price, in the right role and wait for the right time.

Desperate to upgrade the talent of an underperforming supporting cast around Stephen Curry, the team has spent the past two weeks actively exploring the trade market, including an unlikely attempt to sign Paul George, a pursuit the team knows is now over.

Thompson, feeling the cold winds blowing from the only franchise he had ever known, reciprocated, limiting communication and planning for the future of the NBA outside the Bay Area.