Klay Thompson’s future with the Golden State Warriors looks uncertain.
Warriors and Klay Thompson Struggle with Contract Talks
The five-time All-Star and the team haven’t made any progress on a new contract. This means he might become a free agent soon. Last season wasn’t great for him, and the Warriors missed the playoffs. Age seems to be catching up with them. Still, Klay is a future Hall of Famer and will attract interest from other teams, but they should know he’s not the same player he once was.
Klay Thompson’s Best Years Are Over
Thompson’s performance has declined. He averaged 17.9 points, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 3.3 rebounds per game last season. His three-point shooting was at 38.7%, but his overall field goal percentage was just 43.2%. The Warriors have other issues to fix too, but Klay didn’t meet expectations this year.
Teams interested in him should remember he’s now 34 years old and not as strong defensively as before; his defensive rating hit a career-low of 118 with a minus-1.5 defensive box plus/minus rating.
I think it’s tough seeing such a great player slow down like this.
His defensive rebounding percentage was only 10.2%, and his defensive win-share rating stood at 1.7%. If he explores free agency this summer, the Warriors will need to find new options.
Potential Offseason Targets for Golden State
There are many players who could help if Klay leaves or even if he stays but needs support:
Brandon Ingram from New Orleans has been mentioned in trade rumors; he’d add scoring power and relieve some pressure off Stephen Curry offensively.
Clint Capela is another target who could boost their defense and help solve frontcourt problems, especially in rebounding.
Nic Claxton would also be valuable in the frontcourt; averaging 2.1 blocks per game, he’d provide rim protection and solid rebounding.
Even if they lose Klay Thompson, all hope isn’t lost for the Warriors—they have plenty of ways to strengthen their team this offseason!
