Warriors owner Joe Lacob seems prepared to do whatever it takes to re-sign shooting guard and impending free agent Klay Thompson. Following the Warriors’ Game 6 victory over Houston in the Western Conference semifinals, Lacob told ESPN’s Nick Friedell he wants Thompson and point guard Stephen Curry “as part of our organization forever.”
A report surfaced this week indicating that there’s mutual interest in getting a deal done. Lacob will have to pay a giant price to retain Thompson, who has stated that he expects a max contract. He could make $189MM with Golden State over the next five years if he’s not named to an All-NBA team or sign elsewhere for four years and $140.6MM. If he does gain that honor, Thompson would be eligible for a $221MM super-max contract.
Curry’s contract is guaranteed for three more seasons and will get paid $40.2MM, $43MM and $45.8MM during that span.
Lacob would have to pay major luxury tax penalties if the Warriors re-sign both Thompson and Kevin Durant, or in the unlikely scenario that Durant opts in for $31.5MM next season.
Lacob said his desire to retain Thompson goes well beyond the court.
“I have a special bond with him. I always have,” the owner said. “He’s the first player, since I bought the team, that we drafted. The very first one. And I just have always felt an incredible attachment. People make fun of me a little bit — I always say I love Klay. … There’s something about him, I have a very special relationship with him.”
Thompson scored 27 points in the Game 6 clinching win over the Rockets.
That doesn’t seem like a great negotiating move on Lacob’s part…
What does lacob care? The warriors are essentially printing money and they have the market with the most billionaire and millionaire in san Francisco and silicon valley. He could give all 4 of the guys max deals and still turn a profit. Plus he understands branding. He could be set for quite a while after curry and Thompson retire based soley on the reputation and brand the warriors have built.
If you’re the warriors you re-sign both at all cost. I know it easy for a fan to say an extra 40+ million in luxury taxes isn’t a big deal but you dont a fix dynasty that isn’t broken.
40 million plus is not a big deal for a billionaire
especially with all the extra money from a new arena.
They don’t need both. They were winning championships before Durant and would still be among the favorites next year without him.
Plus we’d have a 30 million dollar slot available for Kawhi Leonard or Kyrie Irving or another Max guy.
As a team operating over the cap… no you don’t have anything for the slot left if KD goes, sorry dude!
The Warriors have shown that they are willing to go over that tax. Maybe the slot disappears if KD disappears but the right guy comes in and they will pay him eventually. No worries there.
I don’t think Kyrie will fit in with the Warriors. Besides, he probably wants to team up with his security blanket again.
Thompson is staying because he loves playing on a team not needing individual stats. His drive is to win championships not being the best player on a team. He will be with his splash brother in the hall of fame one day.
Here’s what they sell the team on. Let’s win four in a row. And separate ourselves from the Bulls and the Lakers over the last 30 years. Yes Jordan is the goat and incredible and won his six times he played and of course that’s amazing, but four in a row would be really really separating historically.
This. If warriors win this year everyone resigns. If they lose durant is gone. 4 in a row would cement their place in basketball history.
Agree of the warriors that need to stay it’s Klay
Klay Thompson is so underrated in the NBA, in general.
Underrated by who?
Heck of a owner, Lacob reminds me of the Yankees’ Boss George Steinbrenner, no hesitation to pay best players…
Just like Mr. Eddie D.
I too just woke up from a years long hibernation. This is known, like how Jon is going to kill Danaerys in episode 6.
Hate you
I think its a smart move because klay can not get a super max deal with the warriors they don’t have a huge financial advantage over the other teams with cap space so doing some brown nosing to try and stroke klays ego seems smart if they do want to keep him which they should because it is not like they can replace his productions on the free agent market or via the draft.