This season has been an absolute failure for Klay Thompson and the Warriors, whose season has officially come to an end after losing to the Sacramento Kings. And with Thompson set to become a free agent in a few months, his basketball future is uncertain, and some teams have reportedly expressed interest in signing him.
According to well-known journalist Zach Lowe, "The Warriors and Thompson's agent team have not been in substantive negotiations for a new contract for months, according to sources. Both sides must have taken note of Jrue Holiday on a four-year, $135 million contract extension signed to the Boston Celtics last week, who is almost the same age as Thompson, and there are bound to be some teams interested in Thompson. ”
It's no secret that Thompson intends to test the waters of the free agent market this summer, and he will spend time meeting with multiple teams about new contracts. Nothing is impossible for Thompson, who is now 34 years old, in the final stages of his career, and has already won four championship rings, with the option of joining another team, re-signing a new contract with the Warriors, and of course, retiring.
But after scoring just 0 points on 0-of-10 shooting in Wednesday's playoff game when the Golden State Warriors were beaten by the Kings, Thompson's value has undoubtedly reached an all-time low, and his future has never been more uncertain. In the current situation, a significant pay cut seems inevitable for Thompson, and it's something that must be done if he wants to stay with the Warriors for the long term.
After receiving a whopping $43 million salary this season, Thompson's next contract will be completely different, and everyone knows how much he has regressed since winning the championship a few years ago, and this season's 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, while shooting as low as 43 percent from the field, confirms the fact that his form has seriously declined, which could put him in a very awkward position in the free agent market this summer.
While Thompson's form has taken a serious dip, his championship experience and pitcher skills can still be of great help to a competitive team. Under the right circumstances, with the right role, Thompson could end his career gracefully as a backup scorer and veteran leader in the locker room.
Rumor has it that the Los Angeles Lakers have been following Thompson for a while, and that rumor seems plausible considering the Lakers are now desperate for victory. For LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Thompson's shooting ability will be a huge addition and the ability to create whole new opportunities for others. Thompson, meanwhile, could have enjoyed an early retirement in Los Angeles, which is close to the bay and allows him to enjoy fishing at any time as he likes, as well as a chance to compete for another championship before the end of his career.
The Orlando Magic, another team that has been rumored to have been linked with Thompson, are one of the few teams with plenty of salary space this offseason, and they could open up the offensive space by signing Thompson to add an experienced wing shooter and relieve the pressure on Paolo Banchero on the offensive end. The San Antonio Spurs could be another option for Thompson as the presence of Victor Wembanyama puts pressure on the Spurs to improve their talent as soon as possible and add some pitchers alongside Wemban.
Of course, Thompson will most likely have to take a pay cut to stay with the Warriors and fulfill his dream of retiring with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. And all of the Warriors' stars are also hoping that Thompson will return, and if he can accept a pay cut to ease the team's luxury tax burden, he will likely return to the team in a new capacity.