4 stars the 76ers should have on their 2023 Christmas wish list
3. Klay Thompson — SG/SF (Golden State Warriors)
Compared to the other two, Klay Thompson is a much more modest entry here and an argument could even be made that tabbing him as a star is quite the reach at this juncture. Sure, the All-Star sharpshooter has waned this season production-wise, but he will still command significant attention in the market should his camp fail to re-up with Golden State’s brass.
George and Mitchell are max players, and should the 76ers become challenged to work out the finances to fit a third mammoth in their payroll, they can resort to relatively cheaper options in free agency. One of those is Thompson, who is projected to be available for fringe All-Star money next year.
The five-time All-Star is off to a slow start in the present campaign, but betting on him to regain his form as the season goes by is reasonable, especially after coming off one of his strongest seasons yet last year when he registered a career-high in three-pointers made per game on a blistering 41.2 percent clip fron downtown to the tune fo 21.9 points per outing —- the third-best mark in his career.
Unlike other shooters though, Thompson has made for himself as a quality defender who can latch onto different positions with his length and veteran savvy. His declining mobility — in large part due to age and two major injuries that cost him a couple of seasons — has stripped him of some effectiveness on that end, but he remains an experienced two-way asset on the court who fills a need for Philadelphia.