Klay Thompson’s chances of Warriors return fading as Magic loom

Klay Tꦺhompson’s time with the Warriors might be coming to an end.

The five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion is set to become a free agent at the end of the month, and things between him and the franchise don’t a༒🌠ppear to be going well. 

Thompson, 34, is no longer following the team on Instagram, deleted mention of the Warriors from his bio on the platform and purged the majority of his Golden State-related posts ꦐdating back more than two years, 💯including celebratory photos of the team winning the 2022 NBA championship.

One NBA insider said it’s all but certain Thompson will test the open market for the first time in his 11 seaso🐈ns. 

“Klay Thompson, I’m told, is open to all external options in free agency coming up,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania said on FanDuel TV on Monday. “He intends to test free agency. We know the Warriors want him back, they offered him an extension before the start of the season. They’re going to see if there can be a deal that gets done. He’s going to be there in the marketplace, seeking offers elsewhere.”

Oddsmakers have apparently taken notice. 

Klay Thompson next team odds
Golden State Warriors +130
Orlando Magic +130
Los Angeles Lakers 10/1
Philadelphia 76ers 16/1
Oklahoma City Thunder 16/1
Dallas Mavericks 16/1

After being favored to retain t🐭heir longtime star less than a month ago, the Warriors are now ev෴en with the Magic (+130) to have Thompson on the roster come opening night in October 2024. 

Orlando, which h▨as roughly $50 million in cap space heading into free agency, has long be🏅en rumored as a potential destination for Thompson as the team searches for shooting to pair with its young, defensive-minded roster. 

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Thompson made $43 million🌠 ✤last year, but it appears he will have to take a pay cut as age and injuries catch up with him. 

NBC Sports Bay Area’s that Thompson “realizes he won’t see anything like his expiring contract, a five-year max worth $190 million,” and that he is “seeking an offer of a🤡t least three years.”

that ther🔴e is “mutual interest” between Thompson and the Magic, although the Warriors would welcome him back “at the right pri✅ce and in the right role.”