Warriors Risk Losing Klay Thompson to Lakers or Clippers if They Don't Offer the Max
By Scott Rogust
The future of the Golden State Warriors hangs in the balance on June 30 when the NBA free agency frenzy kicks off. Klay Thompson is scheduled to hit the open market, and despite popular belief, a return to the Bay Area might not be set in stone.
According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, if the Warriors fail to offer Thompson a full five-year max contract worth $190 million, the shooting guard will listen to what both the Lakers and Clippers have to say.
Sources: If the Warriors don’t offer guard Klay Thompson a max $190 million deal on Sunday when free agency opens, he will listen to both LA teams, the Lakers and Clippers. Lakers back in the runnings because they now have max slot of $32 million after today’s trade.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 28, 2019
Even though Thompson suffered a torn ACL in Game 6 of the NBA Finals and is expected to miss most or all of next season, teams are still going to pursue the All-Star 3-and-D specialist. And they'd be crazy not to.
The Lakers made a splash on Thursday when newly acquired Anthony Davis waived his $4 million trade kicker to open up $32 million in cap space, enough to sign a max player. Both the Lakers and Clippers are essentially in on every top free agent, from Kawhi Leonard to Jimmy Butler. Los Angeles is a top free agent destination this summer, and Klay is a special talent in that he doesn't need to have much of the ball to make a major impact on games.
Klay Thompson open to listening to Lakers and Clippers if Warriors don't offer $190M max deal, per @BA_Turner pic.twitter.com/X92IE7bYJJ
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) June 28, 2019
The Warriors can't be counted out, however, as all they have to do is pay up. Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle reported on June 14 that the Warriors are expected to make the five-year max offer to Thompson; even Thompson's father, Mychal -- a former Laker, it must be noted -- said there was "no doubt" his son would re-sign with the Warriors in due time.
NBA fans and media members alike won't get answers until this Sunday, and it can't get here quick enough. Because if Klay decides to shock the world and leave town, we could be in for the wildest free agency period any fan has ever seen.