The Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks are expected to be among strong suitors for Thompson, according to league sources. Multiple teams with salary cap space are expected to show interest in Thompson as well. Through the Tim Hardaway Jr. salary dump, the Mavericks have already generated enough room to offer the full projected $12.9 million midlevel on the market. The Lakers have the ability to generate the same, depending on where LeBron James’ next deal lands and other business.
Golden State is operating in the marketplace as a full nontaxpayer midlevel exception team for the first time in approximately a decade due to the anticipated departure of Thompson and the potential departure of Chris Paul’s $30 million non-guaranteed deal, league sources said, which sheds $73.2 million from its books.
In a desperate search to upgrade the talent of an underperforming supporting cast around Stephen Curry, they had spent the last couple of weeks actively exploring the trade market, including an improbable run at free-agent-to-be Paul George, a pursuit the team knows is now dead.
Thompson, feeling the cold wind blowing from the only franchise he’s ever known, reciprocated in kind, limiting communication and planning for an NBA future outside the Bay Area.
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(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
