Talk of Klay Thompson’s future has centered on Dallas, where reports say the Mavericks may move on from him but do not want to buy him out. That leaves a trade as the only realistic path for any change right now, and at this point in Thompson’s career, it’s hard to imagine a team surrendering much to take on his contract.
A buyout still feels like the cleaner route if he ends up elsewhere, especially for a contender. A return to the Golden State Warriors, though, is something that seems far-fetched on the surface - enough that it would be a surprise to see that relationship rekindled.
Still, one writer floated exactly that possibility. Charles North wrote, “Thompson returning to the Golden State Warriors would be absolutely amazing, especially if LeBron James went there as well.
The starting five would be filled with legendary players whom fans would rush to their TV screens to watch each night. The fit is obviously great, with the chemistry between him, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green rivaling any other trio to ever play,”
If the Warriors somehow landed LeBron James and Thompson wound up bought out, that kind of scenario would at least make some sense. But the idea of simply adding Thompson and calling it a day doesn’t really move the needle.
Golden State has already had what could be described as the worst offseason of any win-now team in the NBA, and while Thompson’s career deserves respect, bringing in another older player who isn’t the same guy he once was doesn’t fix the issues that have lingered all summer.
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Golden State now finds itself in the Summer League Championship Game on July 19, a stage few teams reach and even fewer expect to matter this much when the calendar flips to mid-July. The late-game margin was slim enough to keep it tense all the way through, and the way the Warriors closed it out only adds to the sense that this group has found a little more edge than anyone would have guessed a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face An All-In Roster Decision With Butler Uncertainty
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But the fit questions are hard to ignore, especially with Butler already occupying much of the same offensive territory DeRozan would bring. Any move of that size would also have to account for Draymond Green and the way the locker room functions, which is why the Warriors are still sorting through alternatives rather than rushing into a clean solution. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors' LeBron Chase Just Put A Huge Plan B In Focus
The Warriors offseason search has a familiar star-chasing feel to it, but there is also a practical layer taking shape behind the scenes. Golden State is among the teams weighing a run at DeMar DeRozan, the recently waived six-time All-Star forward, as the market starts to sort itself out and more established names come into focus.
DeRozan is drawing interest from several places, including the Pistons, Raptors, Lakers and Trail Blazers, which gives this sweepstakes a broader feel than a simple one-team chase. For the Warriors, the real question is how their pursuit of LeBron James changes the rest of their board, because their interest in DeRozan appears tied to what happens at the top of it. [Read more 🡒]