Klay Thompson‘s contract continues to wind down. The Golden State Warriors veteran will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. He is widely expected to re-sign with the Warriors once the current season has ended. However, he has struggled to provide a consistent impact as part of Steve Kerr’s rotation.
According to Shams Charania, who was speaking on a recent episode of the Pat McAfee show, Thompson could test the free agent market as he explores the opportunities available to him.
“This is a guy, Klay Thompson, a four-time champion, All-NBA, All-Star-caliber guy, now coming off the bench,” Charania said. “That’s an adjustment. You think about his contract situation. You think about the team as a whole; they’re a .500 team right now…I think he’s been going through it at different points. I think he’s doing his best to get through it. He’s set to be a free agent at the end of the season. I expect to test the marketplace. I would expect both Florida teams, both LA teams, and potentially a couple of East Coast teams to have interest in Klay Thompson. As of right now, unless there’s a miracle extension, he’s going to test the market place.”
Thompson has made no secret of his desire to remain with the Warriors beyond the current season. As such, he’s still likely to re-sign with the franchise. However, doing his due diligence is smart, especially if he feels there’s a better opportunity in terms of salary and role elsewhere around the league.
"I think the lack of an extension for Klay Thompson has been an issue and his free agency is looming..
He was amazing last night and he's shown that he can still help a team" @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/VQL08SyDEW
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 16, 2024
It’s unlikely that the Warriors will look to resolve Thompson’s future before the end of the season. As such, the speculation surrounding his tenure with the team and the potential to leave during the offseason will continue to swirl. However, if he can prove himself as a viable sixth man, it’s unlikely Golden State will part with such an important part of their core.
