Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2019: 20 best players available

By Brendon Kleen

Mandatory Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images /
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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 13: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the NBA Finals on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 13: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the NBA Finals on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Klay Thompson, G, Golden State Warriors, Unrestricted

Like Durant, Thompson’s free agency is complicated by an injury suffered in the NBA Finals — an ACL tear in this case. Although there have been quiet rumblings about the Lakers for a while, as a founding member of this dynasty and a key piece of the core identity, the conventional wisdom was that the Warriors would pony up and offer Klay a max deal.

It’s hard to imagine the Warriors walking away from Klay because of the injury and it’s just as difficult to imagine their front office trying to use his health to aggressively drive down the value of his contract. Maybe they can be frank about the additional risk this holds for them and get Klay to accept a little less. But the most likely course is still that he’s back on the Warriors next season at a salary of his choosing with a lot more uncertainty surrounding the on-court future of the team.

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