NBA rumors: The Magic and Klay Thompson have "mutual interest" in free agency.
Is Klay Thompson leaving the Warriors and Western Conference to join the Magic in the Eastern Conference?
That's a question everyone seems to be asking, especially when the four-time champion is about to enter free agency. Thompson will be one of the high-profile players available this summer, and the Orlando Magic are ready to pursue him.
In fact, according to Sport's Shams Charania, there is a "mutual interest" between Thompson and the Magic.
"The Magic could offer more than $60 million in salary space this summer," Charania said on FanDuel's Run It Back.
"There's one name to keep an eye on, and that's Klay Thompson, and I've been told there's a mutual interest between the Magic and Klay Thompson.
Thompson, and a couple of other veterans in the league, are bullish on the Magic, and if you put Klay Thompson in it, you put another veteran player, whether it's at point guard or shooting guard, and this team can make a real leap around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. ”
This is really good news, if the Magic team really likes Klay so much, they can give Klay all the space of more than 60 million US dollars, sign it for a year and see how it works.
The Magic have long been considered a potential suitor to Thompson, even before the start of the NBA playoffs. In addition to having the financial space to bring in players like Thompson, the Magic proved during the playoffs that they were only one or two key players away from becoming a real threat at the top of the Eastern Conference.
A player like Thompson, one of the league's best three-point shooters, is exactly what this team is missing.
Of course, Thompson's decision to leave the Warriors was not an easy one. As of now, there is no indication that Klay will leave Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the two best friends with whom he has been spending his career.
This Warriors core has won four championships together, and the entire organization still believes they can win more together. While he may be genuinely willing to explore his market value on the free market, Thompson's departure from the Warriors still seems more of a dream than an underlying reality.
Potential free market targets for the Magic, in addition to chasing Klay Thompson, the Magic may have several other targets as they head into a pivotal offseason. When free agency began, the biggest names on the market, other than Thompson, could include Paul George, LeBron James, James Harden, and Pascal Siakam.
Although the Magic can sign LeBron is nothing more than a dream for their fans, George is a realistic target. Allegedly, Orlando is expected to be interested in George if he doesn't reach a contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Theus Jones, Buddy Hield and Gary Trent Jule are all free agents, and the Magic could consider pursuing them if they hit a wall in their quest for an All-Star caliber player. Sixth Grade Bench Candidate Malik Monk is another player who could offer immediate value at the shooting guard position in Orlando.
On the trade market, Afney Simmons, Dejounte Murray and D'Angelo Russell are the three guards the Magic are considering, and it's unclear if the Magic are willing to pay a high price for any player in a potential trade.
The truth is that the Magic will do everything they can to try to improve their immediate prospects in the playoffs. After forcing the Cleveland Cavaliers into Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs, the young team has proven that they are on the verge of becoming something special.
A new addition, whether Thompson or someone else, could make a positive difference in the future of the brand, affecting it for many years to come.
To be honest, Klay and Magic have mutual interest, which is good news for Klay and Magic, and it is also a relief for the Warriors, hoping that Curry will not keep Klay.