Serge Ibaka (DR) / NBA (DR)
Emblematic figure of the Warriors, Klay Thompson is however quoted more and more often as on the departure. It became all the more concrete after an anonymous manager mentioned two competitors as likely landing spots… The destinations in question are also linked to his private life.
It’s hard to really judge Klay Thompson’s 2022-23 season, so more than thirty games have already been played. On the one hand, the Golden State guard is averaging more than 18 points at almost 38% success from behind the arc, rather clean figures in themselves. But on the other, his overall address is atrocious (39% shooting) and he is light years away from his defensive level before his long injury absence.
His performance during the Christmas Game is also a good example, since if the quadruple champion finished the meeting with 24 points and 9 rebounds on the clock, this was done at the cost of his precision (8/24 including 3/ 12 by far). It is mainly for his memorable trash-talking against the Grizzlies that he has made people talk about him and in general, the Splash Brother has been causing a lot since the start of the campaign. And often, it’s to get shot in stride.
Klay soon at the Lakers or the Warriors?
Unsurprisingly, this is not necessarily to reassure many people in the Bay, especially since Jordan Poole asserts himself game after game as a superb player and could well steal his place alongside Stephen Curry. Add to that the Dubs’ payroll issues, and it makes him an ideal candidate for a departure… According to an unnamed executive who spoke to the site Heavytwo drop points would then emerge from the competition:
You know, he grew up with his dad as a player, mostly for the Lakers, so that’s a team he could consider moving to. And he grew up near Portland, so the Blazers, there was talk that he wanted to play for them. But in fact, he is an integral part of the Warriors now. He’s been so much a part of the team and the culture, everything he’s been through with the injuries, and just his laid back attitude and approach. They adore him. It would be hard to imagine him putting on any other uniform.
Remember that his father Mychal Thompson wore the colors of the Blazers as the Lakers during his career and Killa Klay therefore knows the two franchises perfectly. In either case, the prospects would be intriguing as he could play either with Damian Lillard or with LeBron James. The Purples and Golds would also not say no to reinforcements, especially in the field of outside shooting where they lack real snipers.
That being said, nothing is done for the moment and even if the multiple All-Star were to leave his stable of always, it would not be done without consideration. This will also have to be particularly substantial, since it must still receive more than 80 million dollars over the next two campaigns. Suffice to say that the Warriors will not let him slip away like that, hoping to get a big package in exchange in order to continue fighting for the title.
Could Klay Thompson continue his career at the Blazers or the Lakers? This is not to be excluded according to the opposing leaders. It is true that seeing him alongside Damian Lillard or even LeBron James would be quite attractive… We will have to follow the file closely.
