The Golden State Warriors wrapped up the 2023-24 season with a record of 46-36, falling short of their championship aspirations. As the team look forward to a hopeful turnaround next season, questions loom regarding the future of star guard Klay Thompson, who is set to enter free agency.

The five-time All-Star has been a cornerstone of the Warriors’ success over the past decade. However, the team faces a challenging financial landscape as it aims to retain Thompson while also managing its salary cap.

According to Sean Deveney, Thompson is expected to attract significant interest from teams with available cap space, including the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Philadelphia 76ers.

“The Warriors hope to keep Thompson while also getting themselves underneath the league’s luxury tax limit, a pair of goals that could be achievable if Thompson’s salary does not come in too high.”

The 76ers and the Magic’s interest in Thompson was revealed earlier. However, if any of these teams can offer a contract that meets Thompson’s expectations, his departure from the Warriors could mark the end of an era. Thompson’s numbers were solid but fell short of his peak form this season. He averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 rebounds per game.

Kendrick Perkins Suggests Warriors Let Klay Thompson Test Free Agency

In a recent interview with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins shared his perspective on how the Warriors should handle Klay Thompson’s free agency. Perkins suggested that the Warriors might benefit from allowing Thompson to explore his market value.

“If I was the front office of the Golden State Warriors and I’m being serious here, I let Klay test the waters. I let him test the waters and say to him, ‘You know what? If you find somebody that’s going to give you more money, we’ll match it or we’ll consider matching it. We’ll find a way,” Perkins said.

However, Perkins also raised questions about Thompson’s happiness with the Warriors.

“No matter how much the Warriors try to say that they want to keep the Big 3 together and Klay wants to be here all the time, but was Klay really happy there?” he asked.

The Warriors must weigh their options carefully. Allowing Thompson to test the market could clarify his value and ensure that any decision is in the best interest of both the player and the franchise.