Magic a team to monitor for Paul George, Klay Thompson

It’s an interesting conversation. You think of Luka and Kyrie, you and Joe Dumars, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. We released a list to further the debate, but is there anyone else who isn’t getting enough consideration? Isiah Thomas: “I think it’s really hard. This is an audience that’s pretty young. Gail Goodrich and Jerry West was pretty damn good. I think they both were averaging 25 or 26 [points] with Wilt Chamberlain. Those guys were pretty good. [Earl] Monroe and [Walt] Frazier were good. It’s really difficult. Luka and Kyrie, they’re pretty special on the offensive side of the ball. Those two would be tough to guard in any era. They’ll give it to you. As a fan watching them, I love watching them play because they give you the entertainment. They give you the excitement. They give you the oohs and aahs. Offensively, they give you everything that you want. -via Dallas Morning News / June 6, 2024

So when Golden State Warriors fans howl in support of Curry and Thompson, Van Gundy makes a simple, fairly obvious rebuttal. “When I look at Curry and Thompson—fantastic backcourt, but you can’t just give Klay Thompson the ball and say, ‘OK, create a shot for us,’” he said. “He’s more dependent on other people. And there’s usually at least one in [any great backcourt] that that’s true of, at least to some degree.” -via The Ringer / June 3, 2024

Klay Thompson wants to win. Don’t expect him to chase the largest possible offer from the Detroit Pistons or Charlotte Hornets, even if that’s the correct financial or leverage move. But there are plenty of cap-space teams with a clearer upward path to contention than the Warriors. That includes the Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. -via New York Times / May 30, 2024

Paul George: KP was the GM in Indiana. And same situation, right? We have a meeting in New Orleans, All-Star Weekend. ‘Yo, am I getting traded? Just let me know, we can work with each other. Or not even that, just let me know so then now I could be at peace with that. Don’t just leave me out to dry.’ ‘No, you’re not getting traded, you’re not getting traded.’ Couple of days go by, agent hit me, like, ‘Man, the teams are calling cuz the Pacers are shopping you around.’ So I’m like, really? We just sat down on this subject right here.” -via YouTube / June 9, 2024

His physical attributes set him apart from his peers. “I measured at 6’8″. … But I don’t really get why you don’t measure with shoes on. You play with shoes on. … But I am really 6’10”, I can say that with confidence. Wingspan, 6’10”. Weight 205 lbs,” he said. Buzelis sees several NBA comparisons for his game. “Franz Wagner, Andrei Kirilenko, Paul George, Tracy McGrady, Joe Johnson, Michael Beasley,” he listed, elaborating on Wagner: “Just the versatility of his game. His height, too. He can bring the ball up. He does a lot of things on the court. Watching him brings more out of me, of what I could be in the NBA.” -via BasketNews / June 7, 2024

The 34-year old small forward also added that in addition to the Clippers, the Pacers honor him by hanging his jersey on the Fieldhouse rafters. Paul George, however, joked that he might get booed in Indianapolis all the same. “I might be the first player to get boos [during a jersey retirement ceremony],” George said with a laugh. -via Clutch Points / June 4, 2024