Why Mo Buckets believes the Warriors should prioritize retaining Klay originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Marreese Speights spent three seasons with the Warriors, still follows the team closely and, as a citizen of Planet Hoops, has heard speculation about Klay Thompson’s future.
Will Thompson, who will become an unrestricted free agent on June 30, re-sign with Golden StateWho called him up in 2011?
Or will he take his talents elsewhere, with the Orlando Magic expected be among the chasing teams?
Speights likes both teams — he grew up in Florida, following the Magic, and finished his NBA career in Orlando — but hopes his former Golden State teammate sticks around.
“He belongs to them,” Speights said in “Dubs Talk.” “Yes, 100 percent.”
Speights laid out his reasons, which are in sync with the components of Golden State’s recruiting pitch for keeping its core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Thompson.
“(Keeping Thompson) is really important because of the foundation these guys have laid,” Speights said. “And the people out there love him.
“But when it comes to basketball, Klay is a huge basketball junkie. Coming off the bench is probably difficult for him because of who he is. He wants to be there helping his team win.”
Initially unenthusiastic about the move to the sixth man role in February, Thompson eventually seemed to accept it as part of a career adjustment. His skill remains high but is clearly compromised by serious injuries, a torn left anterior cruciate ligament suffered in the NBA Finals in June 2019, followed 18 months later by a torn Achilles tendon.
Thompson spent the final three weeks of the season as the starter, but coach Steve Kerr indicated in his postseason press conference that if Thompson were re-signed, he would likely be cast as Golden State’s sixth man.
During his postseason press conference, Thompson spoke glowingly about his time with the Warriors but gave no indication of his plans.
“It’s going to be a very strange situation when free agency comes,” Speights said. “Because I know there are a lot of teams that love him and want him.
“But being there, he feels comfortable there and knows this franchise. I feel like they should do whatever it takes to keep it.”
And yet, the man nicknamed “Mo Buckets” fully understands why a young, talented team like Orlando, with a solid defense but deep shooting deficiencies, would be interested in a veteran shooter like Thompson.
Thompson and Curry are the only players to have made more than 250 3-pointers in each of the last two seasons.
“He would definitely make his team a lot better, his franchise better, because Klay is elite,” Speights said. “He’s an elite basketball player, he has an elite IQ and he’s an elite shooter. And they need a sharpshooter with the Magic.
“So if he left the Warriors, it would definitely be a team that could really help him. And he could really help them.”
