Report: Magic Only Willing to Offer Klay a Short-Term Free Agent Deal originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
One of Warriors legend Klay Thompson’s realistic potential suitors may not offer him the attractive free agent contract he wants.
The Orlando Magic will prioritize short-term contracts when trading — both marquee and high-profile players — during free agency, which is the opposite of what Thompson wants, Yahoo! Senior sports specialist Jake Fischer reported Friday.
“Orlando, sources said, does indeed intend to pursue a veteran guard/wing who can occupy space around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner without commanding too much oxygen on the ball,” Fischer said.
“Orlando appears to want to offer only a short-term deal, similar to the above-market two-year deal the Magic gave Joe Ingles a season ago.”
Other microwave scorers like Malik Monk and Paul George are two other names of interest for Orlando besides Thompson, but the former Golden State winger could be the only unsigned option on June 30.
Monk will reportedly sign again with the Sacramento Kings and George doesn’t know what he wants to do on the court to match his role as a podcast host.
In regards to Thompson, the Magic would likely have leverage over him in contract negotiations due to his age, injury history and last campaign in which he averaged 17.9 points on 43.2 percent shooting from the field.
It’s unlikely that Thompson’s hopes and dreams will be realized during the upcoming free agency period.
“Let’s say the Magic are open to something similar to Bruce Brown’s deal last summer, when the Pacers signed the former Nuggets swingman to a two-year, $45 million contract with the second season being an option. team,” said Fischer. “That number would be below what Thompson turned down from Golden State ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, sources said, and wouldn’t come close to the four years and $78 million Sacramento plans to give Monk.
“League sources also believe Thompson wants a deal for at least three seasons. So Kentavious Caldwell-Pope appears, at the moment, to be the veteran in line to benefit from the Magic’s cap hit.”
Three years seems like too long a commitment for the Magic, which, if true, would leave Thompson in no man’s land.
It was reported on Friday that the Warriors recently offered the 12-year veteran signed a two-year contract, but nothing came of it. Golden State also proposed a Two-year contract extension for Thompson before the start of the 2023-24 NBA season, and that also went nowhere.
It is unknown where Thompson will sign and for how much time and money. In fact, the two-way shooter situation might be best resolved by remaining in a Warriors uniform for at least one more season.
Regardless, the Magic, according to Fischer, will not meet Thompson’s contractual standards.
And time is passing in the career and championship windows.
