Magic only willing to offer short-term contract to Klay Thompson – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

One of Warriors legend Klay Thompson’s realistic potential suitors might not offer him the enticing free agent deal he wants.

The Orlando Magic will prioritize short-term contracts in negotiations – with stars and high-end role players – during free agency, which is the opposite of what Thompson wants, Yahoo! Senior sports insider Jake Fischer reported Friday.

“Orlando, according to sources, does indeed intend to look for a veteran guard/wing who can space the floor around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, without commanding too much oxygen on the ball,” Fischer said.

“Orlando appears to be interested in only offering a short-term deal, similar to the two-year, above-market deal the Magic gave Joe Ingles a season ago.”

Other microwave scorers such as Malik Monk and Paul George are two other names Orlando is interested in, besides Thompson, but the longtime Golden State wing could be the only unsigned option on June 30.

Monk is reportedly re-signing with the Sacramento Kings and George isn’t sure what he wants to do on the court to pair with his role as a podcast host.

As for Thompson, the Magic would likely have leverage over him in contract negotiations due to his age, injuries and his most recent campaign, in which he averaged 17.9 points with 43.2 Shooting % from the field.

Thompson’s hopes and dreams are unlikely to be realized during the upcoming free agency period.

“Let’s say the Magic prove open to something similar to Bruce Brown’s contract last summer, when the Pacers signed the former Nuggets swingman to a two-year, $45 million deal with the second season being a team option,” Fischer said. “That number would be less than what Thompson turned away from Golden State ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, sources said, and would not come close to the four years and $78 million that Sacramento plans to give Monk.

“Thompson also appears, according to league sources, to want a deal of at least three seasons. Therefore, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope appears, at present, to be the veteran in line to benefit from the Magic’s cap space.

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 earlier Friday that the Warriors recently offered the 12-year veteran a two-year deal, but nothing came of it. Golden State also offered Thompson a two-year contract extension before the start of the 2023-24 NBA season, and that also came to nothing.

It’s unclear where exactly Thompson will sign, or for how much money and time. If anything, the two-way sniper situation might be better resolved by remaining in a Warriors uniform for at least another season.

Either way, according to Fischer, the Magic won’t meet Thompson’s contractual standards.

And time is running out on careers and championship windows.

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