I have never been sold on Beal as a star, but I LOVE Thompson. Beal does have a bit more upside, but I just see Klay as such an exceptional basketball player. I think he will continue to get better, and will probably top out as a 20 PPG scorer, with exceptional defense and toughness. Those guys are really rare. Beal might end up scoring more, but I think Klay will be the better all around player.
Currently exceptional and will be more exceptional? I don't know about that. He's a very good outside shooter and a solid defender but other than, he has some weaknesses to patch. Like: finishing around the rim, where he's one of the worst. Some of it might be due to some athletic limitations, some of it due to bad luck and some of it due to just not having good touch around the basket. When he misses, he's so close; it appears that he has the potential to be at least an average finisher one day but until he gets there, that's a big missing piece. He also doesn't get to the line. As good a three point shooter as he is with high volume, his efficiency is still only average.
I don't know why he's abandoned the nice passing sense he showed in college.
Overall, his stats are pretty underwhelming. WS/48 under 1; negative Offensive and defensive rating splits in both seasons, even this past season when he was on a good team, which does not look good; league average PER rookie year and below-average PER sophomore year.
He personally turned me off when he thought a Ginobili comparison was somehow beneath him, showing massive ignorance. He could only wish to be as good as Ginobili.