Klay Thompson Could Leave The Warriors This Summer

Klay Thompson is entering what could potentially be his final season with the Golden State Warriors. He was originally drafted by the Warriors in 2011 and has since contributed to the team's four championships. Thompson is now in the last season of his current contract, and according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, he and the Warriors have made no progress in terms of an extension.

While he reported that both Klay and the Warriors want to come to an agreement, he also acknowledges that there is a real potential for Klay to leave in free agency next summer. With this being said, here are some potential suitors that would be a great fit for Thompson in free agency.




Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have always been linked to Klay Thompson due to the fact that his father played for the purple and gold, and Klay was a Lakers fan growing up. He himself even stated that his father was the reason he got started in basketball and listed Lakers legend Kobe Bryant as one of his favorite athletes while growing up.


On top of this, Klay signing with the Lakers may work out perfectly in terms of what they need. The Lakers are apparently looking for stars to replace LeBron at the end of the season, as he is also on the last season of his contract. If LeBron does leave the Lakers, then the championship experience of a player like Thompson would be an immediate star to pair with Anthony Davis, and the duo could keep the Lakers in championship contention for several more years to come.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings shocked the world last season when they finished 3rd in the Western Conference after missing the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons. They ultimately fell to Klay and the Warriors in the first round, but they showed a lot of promise. A championship-caliber veteran like Klay joining this young and inexperienced core of Fox, Sabonis, Huerter, and others could provide a significant boost.

Joining the Kings would also reunite Klay with his former teammate Harrison Barnes. The two won their first championship together back in 2015 and could possibly have lightning strike twice as key players in this fresh new squad.


New York Knicks

Similar to the Kings, New York has a young core looking to add experienced players to push them deeper into the playoffs. They won their first playoff series in 10 years last season and aim to go even further in the coming seasons. In addition to his experience, Klay also brings scoring ability that the Knicks lacked during their playoff run. They struggled to find consistency among their main offensive options and faced challenges behind the 3-point line for extended periods.

Klay is universally known as a top 5 shooter of all time and has demonstrated his ability to score consistently. He also has the capacity to explode offensively, as he showed with his historic 37 points in a single quarter. Thompson could certainly be the high-impact player to help catapult the Knicks towards success they haven't seen in over two decades.


Philadelphia 76ers

Of all the teams mentioned, the 76ers are probably the most desperate for Klay right now. James Harden has demanded a trade, and with no realistic offers being made as of now, their whole future is up in the air. They have the reigning MVP in the prime of his career and need to make the most of this opportunity while he remains in his peak form.

Regardless of whatever the 76ers are eventually able to gain in return for Harden, it will not be enough for this Philadelphia team to compete against the Bucks or the Celtics, both of which have greatly improved their rosters and each have at least three All-Star-level players. This is why they desperately need to sign a big-name free agent like Klay Thompson on top of whatever trades they make.

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