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The Orlando Magic and Klay Thompson have “mutual interest” with the Golden State Warriors star entering NBA free agency, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Charania reported Monday on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back that Thompson and other notable free agents are looking at Orlando as an attractive opportunity:
Run It Back @RunItBackFDTV
“The Magic can open up an excess of sixty million dollars in cap space this off season…One name to keep an eye on, Klay Thompson, I’m told there is mutual interest between the Magic and Klay Thompson.”@ShamsCharania on the Magic’s future plans.
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Paul George, who can opt out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, has been floated as another target for Orlando.
Nothing is assured when it comes to whether the Magic actually land a marquee star, but it’s a pretty safe bet they’ll at least try.
Per Spotrac, they can create as much as $58.2 million in salary cap space, which is more than enough to put a max contract on the table. With the means to do something big, the front office will also be driven by a fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference and believe an experienced vet can help to elevate a young, promising squad.
Thompson would undoubtedly help to address one of the Magic’s biggest issues on offense. They averaged the fewest three-point makes per game (11.0) and ranked 24th in three-point percentage.
While he’s no longer the dynamic two-way guard he was in his prime, Thompson remains an elite sharpshooter. He connected on 38.7 percent of his long-range attempts this year.
The 34-year-old would also bring the proverbial “championship DNA” after having won four titles with the Golden State Warriors.
Still, it’s worth asking whether Thompson is the right free agent to pursue, assuming he’d sign for at or near the max. He hasn’t been the same player since his ACL and Achilles injuries and may not age gracefully as he gets deeper into his 30s.
Smaller-market franchises such as Orlando can’t afford to have gambles like these backfire. You can picture a future in which Thompson’s contract becomes a burden and limits what the Magic would be able to do elsewhere on the roster.
Whether or not the five-time All-Star lands in Central Florida, it looks like he’ll have some rival suitors if he wants to leverage their interest into a better deal with Golden State.
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