NBA Report: LA Lakers finally sign Klay Thompson for $75 million from Warriors… See More…
The Golden State Warriors “are preparing to lose” Klay Thompson in free agency, Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported for The Athletic.
The Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks could pursue the Warriors veteran in free agency, according to Slater and Charania.
Thompson and the Warriors “have had close to no communication” for almost two weeks, and the team has not made Thompson an offer, Charania and Slater reported.
The No. 11 pick of the 2011 draft, Thompson has played all 11 of his NBA seasons with the Warriors. He won four titles with the franchise between 2015 and 2022.
Sources previously told NBA insider Marc Stein that tensions had increased in negotiations between the Warriors and Thompson because the team had “prioritized” pursuing trade targets like Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George over re-signing Thompson.
It no longer looks like George is heading to San Francisco. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday that George is declining his player option and hitting free agency, likely pricing him out of the Warriors’ range.
Even with the Warriors likely to miss out on George, Slater and Charania similarly reported that the Warriors’ trade moves inhibited their negotiations with Thompson.
“The Warriors, after other business, have wanted to circle back and negotiate with Thompson,” The Athletic reporters wrote. “But he isn’t expected to be there waiting as a willing secondary priority in their summer plan, with his side feeling that the Warriors’ interest in a reunion has been disingenuous.”
