Warriors News: Unexpected Draft Move Confirms Potential Klay Thompson Exit, as 1 NBA Team Poses to Fulfil His Demand

As the Warriors get busy with the second round of the NBA Draft, their first move might surprise fans. The Dubs only had a second-round pick this year at 52nd to work with. On the other hand, the Klay Thompson situation continues to stay at a freeze point. The Warriors haven’t offered him any contracts, however, teams have shown interest in the shooting guard. One of them turned out to be the Orlando Magic. But is Klay’s exit finally confirmed? Well, the Dubs’ recent move says a lot about the same.

Hours before the second round of the draft, the Dubs traded their 52nd pick for OKC’s Lindy Waters III. They continue to deepen the lineup with guards, and for those who think this move affected the Warriors’ stance in the offseason, it didn’t. According to Slater, this trade for a guard seemed a better option for the Warriors than any prospect in the 52nd. It is quite strange to see the Warriors trade for a guard, knowing the abundance of the position on the roster. This along with Orlando’s willingness to offer Thompson a short-term deal with a big bag, says a lot about his possible departure from the Bay.

Considering his last couple of years, Klay can expect somewhere around $20-$25 million a year. And that’s exactly what the Magic have to offer. Orlando is open to a two-year deal worth $50 million. Other than Thompson, the Magic are also willing to sign KCP. For context, the Magic came up short against the Cavs in the first round, going as far as Game 7. While Wagner and  Banchero took care of the shooting, it wasn’t enough to get past Cleveland. In short, Orlando needs a shooting guard.

While Klay desires a three-year deal, he might want to consider going with Magic’s offer. Getting paid around $25 million a year isn’t bad, but it does come in the short term. Nevertheless, the Magic are a franchise in progress, and adding Klay can just boost their performance. With the young talent on the roster, a veteran like Thompson can be of great help in Orlando.

How are the Warriors planning to move on with Klay?

Recently, the Dubs did show interest in Paul George and were willing to offer him a four-year max deal. The $221 million option seems suitable if the front office is looking to recreate a duo, as they did back in 2016. PG13 and Steph will be a threat to look out for in the West. Thompson’s options will be vast, but he can always look to return home. If Klay doesn’t find any suitable offers, he may have to settle with the Warriors giving him a salary less than he had desired.

For now, the Dubs’ plan seems quite straightforward. They would love to add PG while also introducing new guards. However, if they truly wish to land the star from LA, there will be a heavy demand for younger assets from the other end. And considering their potential in the Golden State, names like Podziemski, Kuminga, and Moody will be far from any trade talks. It is up to the Warriors to either fill in Thompson’s spot or hand over the same responsibility to one of their younger talents.

What are your thoughts on Magic’s potential offer for Klay? Should Thompson 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.