Magic News: Moving on From $11 Million Veteran Forward Could Be Orlando’s 1st Major Move to Land Klay Thompson

The Orlando Magic are willing to offer Klay Thompson his desired contract. Not only that, but they also seemed interested in KCP. As they continue to hunt for a solid shooter, the Magic made a serious move that may hint at bringing in either Klay or KCP. Orlando has a young core, with guys like Wagner, Banchero, and Suggs leading the way. Adding a more experienced asset to the roster will help greatly and also in the long run.

It seems as if they have already started to head in the right direction. The Magic declined veteran Joe Ingles‘ $11 million team option. While he wasn’t a major contributor, Ingles was a shooting asset, displaying decent efficiency. However, Orlando is taking the shooting guard spot more seriously as this move could incline the Klay Thompson deal.

Thompson is expecting to land a deal that can bag him over $20 million a year. The Magic on the other hand are willing to offer him his desired contract. Thompson’s presence in Orlando will help them next offseason and become a threat in the East. While KT’s recent performance wasn’t up to expectations, especially in the Play-In tournament, he is still a considerable threat from outside. Not only that, but he is a great on-ball defender.

On the other hand, the Magic, who fell short against the Cavs in the postseason can get a boost with Klay on the roster. Banchero, Suggs, and Wagner are the only consistent and reliable shooters on the roster. But with Thompson’s addition, the Magic can have a more balanced squad. The only question that may be raised would be Klay’s acceptance of the bag offered.

How much is Klay Thompson expecting to land?

KT signed a five-year $189.9 million max contract in 2019. Under this contract, Klay missed two seasons, won a championship, and had a rough couple of seasons. His value in the offseason market is half of what it could’ve been in 2019. If Klay desires a three-year deal, he can expect an offer as expensive as $70 million. But this is where things take a turn for the Magic. Orlando is open to a two-year deal worth $50 million for Thompson.

This can be a great opportunity for Klay in the long run. He’ll get heavy minutes on the floor and can look to improve in the East. Not to mention the possibility of an extension in the future. This will be a win-win situation for Thompson and the Magic. But with KCP also exploring free agency, Orlando will consider his role on the squad as well. Both are consistent shooters and are quite productive on both ends of the floor.

It will be interesting to see whether the Magic consider Klay over Caldwell-Pope. What are your thoughts on Thompson’s free agency? Do you think he should move to the East? Let us know in the comments.

For more interesting NBA content, make sure to watch our conversation with Leonard Armato, who speaks about the Lakers, Shaq, and more in the video below.