Report: 76ers could pursue Klay Thompson in free agency

By his own high standard, Klay Thompson had a subpar year that saw him tally his lowest PPG (17.9) and three-point percentage (.387) in a full season since 2012-13.

But at least a third of the league would jump the queue for those nightly numbers, especially from a player with such championship pedigree.

That’s why the veteran sharpshooter is expected to attract a lot of suitors in free agency. After earlier reports of the Magic and Mavericks showing preliminary interest in Thompson, the 76ers are the latest rumored franchise who could try to lure him away from Golden State.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, the Daryl Morey-led front office is trying to replicate the Pacers’ formula of overpaying for a player such as Bruce Brown (two-year, $45M) on a short-term deal and possibly flipping that asset for another player.

“The Sixers, sources said, took note of Indiana’s two-year splurge for Bruce Brown that then became the biggest salary headed back to Toronto in exchange for (Pascal) Siakam,” Fischer wrote. “Veteran wings like Klay Thompson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would fall on the Sixers’ list of targets for similar one-plus-one contracts, sources said.”

The Sixers could create up to $65M in cap space this offseason, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The franchise has also been linked with Clippers star Paul George, a free agent like Thompson.

Technically, the Warriors could win a bidding war with the Sixers on account of owning Thompson’s Bird Rights. If they really want to, they can pay Thompson a max contract.

However, the team’s governor, Joe Lacob, has said the franchise’s No. 1 priority this summer is to shed its huge luxury tax bill.

“Our Plan 1 or 1A is that we’d like to be out of the tax,” Lacob told “The TK Show” in February.