Thompson (L) of the Golden State Warriors is defended by Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors in the first half during Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, June 13, 2019. /VCG Photo
NBA free agency continued on Monday as Thompson announces to stay while free agents Kawhi Leonard's next stop is still unknown.
Klay Thompson is staying home with Golden State.
Thompson announced his decision to stay with the Golden State Warriors for 190 million U.S. dollars over the next five years, meaning the five-time reigning Western Conference champions have their "Splash Brothers" backcourt of Thompson and Stephen Curry locked up long-term. Thompson made the announcement on social media, using the hashtag "Warrior4life."
He added, "There was never a doubt."
At the same time, Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob is showing his appreciation for Kevin Durant's contributions to three successful seasons by promising that no other player will wear jersey No. 35 as long as Lacob is team chairman.
Lacob released a statement Monday thanking Durant, the two-time NBA Finals MVP who helped the Warriors win back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018 before his postseason was shortened by injury this year. Durant on Sunday announced he would be signing a contract to join the Brooklyn Nets.
No Warriors player will wear Kevin Durant's No. 35 Jersey. /VCG Photo
There's still plenty of doubt about Kawhi Leonard's next stop. The first 24 hours of free agency have come and gone without a peep from the NBA Finals MVP, who is expected to meet with the Toronto Raptors – the team he led to this past season's NBA title – as early as Tuesday. The Los Angeles Lakers also appear to remain squarely in the race to land him to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Enes Kanter is coming back to the Eastern Conference, joining the Boston Celtics.
Kanter's manager, Hank Fetic, wrote on Twitter that Kanter had agreed to two-year deal with the Celtics , with the second-year being a player option. The Athletic reported that the deal would pay Kanter $10 million.
A person with knowledge of the details says the Knicks have agreed to a two-year deal with guard Elfrid Payton.
Payton was the fifth player added by the Knicks in the first two days of free agency, including the second who spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans. New York first agreed to a contract with forward Julius Randle.
Enes Kanter#00 is coming to Boston. /VCG Photo
The Knicks also agreed to deals with Bobby Portis and Taj Gibson on Sunday, and the person confirmed that New York had added swingman Reggie Bullock early Monday.
The person said the second year of Payton's deal is a team option. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot yet be signed. The deal was first reported by The Athletic.
Payton was limited to 42 games last season because of injuries, averaging 10.6 points and 7.6 assists. The No. 10 pick of the 2014 draft spent his first 3½ seasons in Orlando.
Free agent Kevon Looney is returning to the Golden State Warriors on a three-year, 15 million U.S. dollars deal, agent Todd Ramasar tells Adrian Wojnarowski.
Forward Jordan Bell has agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a league source tells Malika Andrews.
Also, the New Orleans Pelicans announced on Monday that the team has signed rookie forward Zion Williamson.