Why Mo Buckets thinks the Warriors should prioritize keeping Klay originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Marreese Speights spent three seasons with the Warriors, still follows the team closely, and as a citizen of Planet Hoops, has heard the speculation surrounding Klay Thompson’s future.
Will Thompson, who will become an unrestricted free agent on June 30, re-sign with Golden Statewho selected him in 2011?
Or will you take your talents elsewhere, with the Orlando Magic expected be among the chasing teams?
Speights has a fondness for both teams (he grew up in Florida, post-Magic, and finished his NBA career in Orlando), but hopes his former Golden State teammate stays in place.
“He belongs to them,” Speights said in “Dubbing talk.” “Yes, 100 percent.”
Speights laid out his reasons, which are in sync with components of Golden State’s recruiting pitch for retaining its core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Thompson.
“(Keeping Thompson) is very important because of the foundation those guys have laid,” Speights said. “And people love him.
“But when it comes to basketball, Klay is a big basketball junkie. Coming off the bench will probably be difficult for him because of who he is. He wants to be out there helping his team win.”
Initially unenthusiastic about being moved to the sixth man spot in February, Thompson eventually seemed to accept it as part of a career adjustment. His ability remains high, but he is clearly compromised by serious injuries, a torn left ACL suffered in the NBA Finals in June 2019, followed 18 months later by a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Thompson spent the final three weeks of the season in the starting lineup, but coach Steve Kerr indicated in his postseason press conference that if Thompson were to re-sign, he would likely be included as a Golden State’s sixth man.
During his postseason press conference, Thompson spoke glowingly about his time with the Warriors, but gave no hint of his plans.
“That’s going to be a very strange situation when free agency hits,” Speights said. “Because I know that there are many teams that love him and want him.
“But being there, feeling comfortable there and knowing that franchise. I feel like they should do whatever it takes to keep him.”
And yet, the man nicknamed “Mo Buckets” fully understands why a young, talented team like Orlando, with a solid defense but deficiencies in deep shooting, would be interested in a veteran sniper like Thompson.
Thompson and Curry are the only players to make more than 250 3-pointers in each of the last two seasons.
“It would definitely make his team a lot better, make his franchise better, because Klay is elite,” Speights said. “He is an elite basketball player, he has an elite IQ and an elite shooter. And they need an elite shooter with the Magic.
“So if he were to leave the Warriors, they would definitely be a team that could really help him. And he could really help them.”