Jason Thompson had less than a month to take in the fact he would be playing for a team he grew up idolizing. The Philadelphia 76ers traded the Lenape High School (N.J.) product to the Golden State Warriors for Gerald Wallace, the right to swap picks, and cash considerations per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey.
Philadelphia acquired the seven-year vet out of Rider via the Kings in the Nik Stauskas deal. It’s a bittersweet deal as Thompson will play across the country for the defending champs. The former first-round pick struggled last year but looks to fill a void in the frontcourt after the Warriors dealt Lee earlier this month to the Boston Celtics.
The Sixers acquire Wallace, who has been traded for the third time in just three years with one of the most infamous contracts in the league. With an expiring contract in hand, Philadelphia can either waive Wallace and absorb some of his $10.1 million cap hit or add the veteran to the young rotation.
Thompson, who averaged 6.1 ppg. and 6.5 rpg. in a down season, seemingly will provide more to the Warriors than Wallace for the Sixers, who is a buyout candidate. The Sixers get another option to trade a less desirable pick for a more viable one in next year’s draft.
Both teams got a desirable outcome as Thompson is another big Steve Kerr can use in the second unit while the Sixers relieve a multiyear contractual player for options in the future.
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