Golden State Warriors Rumors: Klay Thompson 'could consider' leaving defending champs once his contract expires

The Golden State Warriors dynasty might be coming to an end with Draymond Green's potential free agency next summer. Klay Thompson is also set to become a free agent in the summer of 2024. The latest rumors suggest that Thompson 'could consider' leaving the Warriors once his contract expires.

In an interview with Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, a Western Conference executive revealed that Thompson might explore free agency. The executive added that the LA Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers could be two of his preferred destinations:

"He could consider it," the exec said. "You know, he grew up with his dad as a player, mostly for the Lakers, so they're a team he could look to leave for. And he grew up near Portland, so the Blazers, there has been talk he wants to play for them."

However, the executive also clarified that Klay Thompson is fully committed to the Golden State Warriors at the moment. The team also values him and it would be hard to separate him from Steph Curry:

"He is kind of engrained in the Warriors now," the exec said. "He is such a part of that team and the culture, everything he went through with the injuries, and just his whole laid-back attitude and approach. They love him. It would be hard to imagine him actually suiting up in another uniform."

Thompson is averaging 18.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists this season. He's struggling to shoot at times and is no longer the defensive presence he once was. He's earning $40.6 million this season and $43.2 million next season.

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Draymond Green will likely leave the Golden State Warriors this summer

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green has a player option for next season and could opt out to become a free agent. It's certainly possible that he could leave the Golden State Warriors due to what happened with Jordan Poole in the offseason.

A Western Conference executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports that the incident with Poole might have sealed Green's fate with the Warriors. He believes there's a "pretty strong" chance the former Defensive Player of the Year is in his final season in the Bay Area:

"If they win a championship again this year, there will be pressure to keep things together. But the stuff with the punch in the preseason, that probably put the nail in it."

The executive added:

"There was already a good chance he would go just because his production is not what it was, and he is getting older. It would be hard to justify paying him $20-something-million a year."

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