Klay Thompson, Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins' Top Landing Spots After 2024 NBA Draft
After adding young talent in Wednesday's first round of the 2024 draft, some NBA teams will be searching for veteran players to mentor their picks.
Those franchises may need to look no further than the Golden State Warriors, who could potentially be shopping multiple veterans this summer.
Here's a look at some possible landing spots for pending free agent Klay Thompson, as well as trade candidates Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins, heading into Day 2 of the draft.
Klay Thompson
1 of 3
- Golden State Warriors
- Dallas Mavericks
- Orlando Magic
Warriors leadership, including general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and head coach Steve Kerr, have indicated they want Thompson back for a 14th season in the Bay Area, so it seems like there's still a chance the veteran will re-sign with Golden State despite his being moved down the lineup to come off the bench for stretches of last season.
The Mavericks will not select until the final round of the draft. That means they will need to turn to free agency or the trade market to select a wing who can shoot alongside Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving next fall. Could Thompson fill that role, and could the Mavericks' title hopes draw the veteran away from his longtime team?
There have previously been some "mutual interest" between Thompson and the Orlando Magic, The Athletic's Anthony Slater reported last week, although Orlando could be less interested after using the No. 18 pick to draft forward Tristan da Silva out of Colorado.
Chris Paul
2 of 3
- Los Angeles Lakers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Houston Rockets
The Ringer's Logan Murdock reported Wednesday that the Warriors will "aggressively" shop Andrew Wiggins, while "working hard" to deal Paul before his $30 million 2024-25 salary becomes guaranteed Friday.
NBA insider Marc Stein wrote Sunday that the Los Angeles Lakers could be interested in adding Paul, a longtime friend of Lakers star LeBron James. Paul averaged a career-low 9.2 points per game last season, but could still play a supporting role if Los Angeles is able to run things back behind James and Anthony Davis next season.
Paul could also be pursued by a team in need of a veteran presence to mentor a young locker room.
The San Antonio Spurs could be interested in adding short-term leadership to help guide Victor Wembanyama's second NBA season and develop newly-drafted No. 4 pick Stephon Castle, while the Houston Rockets might be looking for mentors for 22-year-old Jalen Green and 2024 No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard.
Andrew Wiggins
3 of 3
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Toronto Raptors
- Dallas Mavericks
The Warriors may be determined to move on from Wiggins this summer, but other teams will likely be interested in picking up the final two years of the veteran's contract with the hopes that a change of scenery will reinvigorate his performance on both ends of the court this fall.
The Cleveland Cavaliers could decide to pursue Wiggins in order to bolster their wing depth, both in terms of defense and three-point shooting. Prior to a drop in offense during the 2023-24 campaign, Wiggins shot over 38 percent from deep for three straight seasons.
The Toronto Raptors already have one home-country star in RJ Barrett. They could receive a shooting boost, while potentially adding another Canadian standout, if they trade for an Ontario native in Wiggins.
The Dallas Mavericks were previously linked as a potential trade partner for Wiggins during the 2023-24 season. He could add some much-needed size the Mavericks' wing rotation if Dallas decides to pursue the trade now that Wiggins' value has fallen in the wake of career-low production totals.
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