Earlier today, it was reported from Shams Caraña that the Warriors' breakup with Klay Thompson was largely a fact......
According to the latest informants, the Warriors are preparing to lose Klay in the offseason, and Klay is determined to find a new owner. But unlike most of the previous media renderings and reports, Klay left the Warriors not entirely for money, and compared with more than half a month ago, more and more teams have joined Klay's battle, including even the Lakers, Clippers, Mavericks and other focus teams.
Klay's departure from the Warriors in the offseason, or the Warriors' "knife" with Klay in the offseason, has actually been traced for a long time.
Back to last season, Klay's play was indeed a bit stretched, and in the regular season, he averaged only 17.9 points per game, setting a new personal low since the 2013-14 season. In addition, his three-point shooting percentage is just 38.7%, which is also the second-lowest statistic of his career.
In the play-offs in April, the Warriors lost to the Kings and failed to grab a ticket to this year's playoffs, and in that game, Klay's individual play was a disaster, he hit all 10 shots in the game, and in the game, he was also the one who surrendered earlier than anyone else in the Warriors. After the game, the mutual trust between Klay and the Warriors was finally crushed by this last straw......
Later, although the Warriors symbolically made a contract extension offer for Klay, they were more indifferent than ever when it came to Klay's stay. The Warriors may have decided that Klay doesn't have much residual value left, and in a previous contract with a maximum salary, Golden State had given Klay $190 million for five years, but in five years, Klay only played in 178 games in total, and the breakout rate was as high as 54.4%. In other words, from the perspective of the management, they believe that they have done their duty to Clay......
But Klay doesn't think so, he firmly believes that he still has inventory in the gas tank, and firmly believes that he still has the ability to help the team compete for championships, and from an emotional point of view, since Curry can still get the top salary in the Warriors, since Dream can still get a contract extension in the offseason, as another meritorious achievement of 4 championships in 8 years, why can't he enjoy similar treatment?
Previously, many media hype pointed out that the conflict between Klay and the Warriors is mainly due to the salary, and Klay wants to go to the free agent market to test the waters, mainly to get a new contract with a higher total price, a contract that the Warriors can't afford. But judging from the latest developments in the matter, what Klay wants most is not money, he wants more to fight for a breath, to prove that he can still establish himself in the league and still be one of the best shooters in the league......
Clay's idea was also quickly echoed by the market. Earlier, there were already several teams such as Magic who were paying close attention to his movements. And today, the emergence of the Lakers, Clippers and Mavericks has gradually pushed this "where is Klay going" drama to a climax.
In an extremely likely scenario, if Klay chooses to sign with the above three Western powerhouses, then he may get a contract that is lower than the Warriors' earlier offer, but for the sake of his name, in order to be able to fight back against the snubbing and contempt of the Golden State, Klay seems to be willing to gamble.
The Mavericks had a hugely successful season as they navigated the West and clocked in for the first Finals in Doncic's era. After the season, the Mavericks did not rest on their laurels, but quickly started a new round of armament expansion.
Yesterday, the Mavericks sent away Hardaway Jr., who was strong on offense and weak on defense, in exchange for Grimes, who was more prominent and younger in defense. And after trading Hardaway Jr.'s contract, the Mavericks also managed to unlock a $12.9 million full mid-range exception, which could be used to sign Klay if he really wants to play in Dallas.
Joining the Mavericks allows Klay to partner with a younger generation of kings like Doncic, and then reopen the window for the championship. With Eastern Europe charging forward and attracting artillery fire, it is likely that Clay will have an easier chance to get a shot opportunity, and the efficiency is expected to rebound. Last season, the reason why the Mavericks failed to win the championship was that there was no reliable shooter on the outside and a relative lack of three-point firepower was undoubtedly the main weakness, so for Klay, they naturally showed a thirsty attitude.
Also hoping for Klay to join are the Los Angeles duo of the Clippers and Lakers.
On the Clippers' side, because George's whereabouts are difficult to determine in the offseason, they are obviously already planning in advance. Once Pickled Pepper chooses to travel east in the future, then theoretically speaking, the introduction of Clay is also a relatively acceptable alternative.
Last season, the Clippers ranked sixth in the league in three-point shooting, but ranked only 21st and 16th in three-point shooting and shooting. In other words, the Clippers' offensive efficiency relies heavily on three-point shooting, but their production is still a bit short of the top three-point team. And this problem can be completely solved in the case of Clay joining.
In addition, after Harden joined last season, the chemistry between him and Pepper was not perfect, especially in the playoffs, the problem of the Big Three cooperation was even more prominent, and Pickle Pepper also hinted at dissatisfaction with last season's ball cuts in an interview this summer. But if Klay, who plays mostly off the ball, replaces Pickles and partners with Harden (if he stays with the team) and Small, then the problem of the Clippers' lack of points on the ball is expected to be solved logically.
The Lakers' sincerity in chasing Klay is also very high, and according to the latest tip, the management's operation has even received strong support from James himself. Sources say that if the Lakers can recruit Klay this summer, then James is even willing to take a pay cut when he signs a new contract with the Lakers.
Since Zhan Mei entered the Lakers, the three-point shot has been the team's weakness, and this flaw has also become the goal of their continuous failure to win the championship in recent years. In this context, for a historic shooter like Klay, the Lakers will certainly not refuse. The Lakers' new coach Redick was born as a shooter, and the Lakers' core Lao Zhan likes the star-studded configuration the most, and these factors will also be more conducive to the recruitment of Klay.
Although it is unclear what decision Klay will make about his next home, it is almost certain that he will have a job to find in the offseason, and even when he signs with a new club, he will enjoy the high-profile treatment of being invited into the door with eight sedan chairs, and this kind of market enthusiasm for Klay and the indifference to Klay within the Warriors have undoubtedly formed a rather stark and somewhat ironic contrast...... (Sohu Sports Original: Poirot)