Klay Thompson Drops "Pretty Big" Hint At Which Team He's Joining This Summer

Over the weekend, we told you about Klay Thompson distancing himself from the Golden State Warriors on social media. Now comes a new bit of info that could reveal his plans for free agency in two weeks.

Thompson has suddenly decided to follow Paolo Banchero on Instagram, the star forward of the Orlando Magic. The same Magic who happen to be one of the prime suitors for Klay this summer, with tons of cap space and a serious need for a reliable floor spacer of Thompson's ilk.

“I definitely think [Klay Thompson] is up to something… You don’t just unfollow the Warriors and follow [Paolo Banchero], the best player on the team…” - @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/4rf3dFG36R
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 17, 2024

Former NBA player Chandler Parsons, who knows as well as anyone how NBA players deal with their social media, says that this is "definitely something." He thinks Klay "is up to something… You don’t just unfollow the Warriors and follow [Paolo Banchero], the best player on the team that you're going to get a big offer from this summer.

"You don't just do this for clicks... Deleting the pictures of him and Steph winning the championship? This is almost like you're deleting your past with your old girlfriend and you're moving on. So, as little as it is, it's pretty big!"

Klay Thompson just followed Paolo Banchero on instagram.

Klay to the Orlando Magic confirmed? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/xP1U8PFe6V
— 30🅿️roblemz (@30problemz) June 16, 2024

As noted today by Shams Charania and Anthony Slater in The Athletic, "For the first time in Thompson's career, he has shown an appetite to explore external options. There remains mutual interest between Thompson and the Magic, according to league sources. The Warriors have made clear they want to bring Thompson back at the right price and in the right role."

And that latter sentence is where the Dubs are having trouble with Klay in negotiations. Thompson's role decreased for the first time last season, even dropping out of the starting five for a period. He scored less points per game than he has in a decade, and signs began to show that his time with Golden State could be nearing an end.

As far as "the right price" goes, the Warriors are trying desperately to lessen their luxury tax load, and allowing someone else to give Thompson a massive long-term contract as he turns 35 next season is certainly one way to do it.

The four-time champion averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Warriors this past season, while shooting 38.7% from three-point range.