Sixers among favorites to land Klay Thompson
While the NBA Playoffs are raging on, offseason preparations have already begun for most other teams in the league. The Philadelphia 76ers did well to hustle their way into the playoffs after spending most of the season without Joel Embiid, but it’s clear that this team will need reshaping in the coming months. With several big-name veterans set to hit the open market and be dangled in trade opportunities, Klay Thompson is one name that stands out.
The folks over at Bookies.com built a model to predict where Klay Thompson will take his talents next season, and it might be quite surprising to hear that the Philadelphia 76ers are among the early favorites.
Projected odds for Klay Thomopson’s next team
Orlando Magic | +300 (25%)
Philadelphia 76ers | +325 (23.5%)
Golden State Warriors | +450 (18.2%)
San Antonio Spurs | +700 (12.5%)
Oklahoma City Thunder | +1100 (8.3%)
Houston Rockets | +1400 (6.7%)
New York Knicks | +1500 (6.3%)
The Field | +450 (18.2%)
76ers among favorites to land Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson is no longer the superstar he once was. He’ll go down as one of the best 3-point shooters of all time and his legacy in Golden State is unprecedented. But his final season in the Bay Area was underwhelming at best. Thompson’s 3-point percentage was the second-lowest in 11 seasons played while he averaged under 20 points per game for the first time since 2013-14. At times, he wasn’t good enough to make Golden State’s starting lineup, with one half of the acclaimed ‘Splash Brothers’ starting only 63 times in 2023-24, the third-lowest mark of his career.
With that said, there’s a chance that the Sixers could squeeze one more good season out of the former first-round pick, and if he’d be open to a reduced role, then having someone as experienced and accomplished as him off the bench could be a great value signing if the opportunity presents itself.
The Sixers did rank 2nd in 3-point shots made last season, making 37.9% of their attempts. A lot of that was largely down to the fact that their offense had to change shape without the presence of arguably the best big man in the league, Joel Embiid. If the 76ers do want to keep shooting at a similar clip, then adding a shooter of Thompson’s caliber makes sense.
There is bound to be a strong market for Klay Thompson’s services. The veteran will likely want what could be the last chapter of his career to end with another ring and the Sixers might end up being a great fit because of that. Only time will tell, but it’s interesting that the team is only fractionally behind the Magic when it comes to odds to land him.
AP Photo/Brandon Dill
