Klay Thompson‘s new role as a sixth man will not make him less inclined to re-sign with the Warriors, he told Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Thompson, who will be an unrestricted free agent in July if he doesn’t reach an extension agreement with Golden State, came off the bench for the fifth consecutive game on Tuesday.
“You’ve still got to examine all of your options, but I would love to be a Warrior for life,” Thompson said. “Whatever happens though, I’ve got a few more years to play this game, so I’m gonna enjoy every second. I realize that I see light at the end of the tunnel, (and) I’m not sure if I want to play until I’m 40, man. That sounds really exhausting.”
Thompson had a 35-point game against Utah the first time he came off the bench. He scored 23 first-half points against Denver in Golden State’s last game on Sunday and is averaging 18.1 points per night in his reserve role. Until this month, he hadn’t come off the bench since his rookie season.
While Thompson is adamant that moving a bench isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s uncertain whether Golden State’s ownership and front office are willing to go deeper into the luxury tax and above the tax aprons to retain him. Amick hears that Thompson has received no assurances from management that his desire to remain with the Warriors will be a shared priority this summer.
Coach Steve Kerr, who just signed a contract extension, said Thompson has handled his new role with class.
“He’s been great,” Kerr said. “His approach feels so much better than it was even a few weeks ago. This has been an emotional season for him. You guys know this. He’s been grappling with his mortality in some ways as an athlete. He knows how good he was six years ago, and he’s had a hard time reconciling everything after the injuries. The thing that we keep trying to convince him of is he’s still a hell of a player. But he’s at his best when he’s not pressing and he’s not stressed out (or) worried about trying to be the guy he was six years ago.”
His teammates are grateful for the way he’s accepted being a sixth man.
“We can’t win without him being good or without him being a key piece,” big man Kevon Looney said. “Whether that’s starting or off the bench, we’re not contending without him being special. We all care about him. We all want him to succeed. We all want him to be great. So when he’s not doing well or his energy’s not great, it kind of weighs on everybody else. He knows that.”
And people kept complaining that Klay was whining about coming off the bench. It is vital to keep him around. He will help with the transition to a younger core. It will be interesting to see what they do with CP3. That non-guaranteed contract is their biggest trade asset. Teams will probably be looking to free agency to improve this off season. It will be helpful to clear cap space.
Now its Curry who been slumping big time. All of his shots look way off. What is going on with him?
He needs his month off. I just hope that it could be an upper body and not a lower body injury like ankles or knees as in the past. Heck just give him a month off without injury…
He’d have to be hurt to take time off, per the resting policy. Plus his gravity, even when he is slumping, opens up opportunities for his teammates to score. Not sure how they will perform with Steph out for a long period of time.
Does he know it won’t net him a $30million contract?
I don’t think he cares. 18 million bucks or 20 million bucks to play ball is a dream for any person on the face of the planet. Especially at 36 or 38 or 40 years old.
He doesn’t care as long as he gets to play till 40.
He got 80+ million to rehab for 2 seasons so he’ll be fine
Sounds like you pull a muscle every time you bend over to tie your shoes.
Where did you read that is what the Warriors have offered him?
I know it’s very unlikely but wouldn’t mind seeing him go from GSW to SAC with former coach Mike Brown pulling the strings to get it done.
That motion offence, providing spacing for Fox and Sabonis, and adds to that little rivalry they have at the moment.
Loyalty is a thing. The reason why you leave is if you’re a younger guy or there’s a little more money or a promotion Etc then it’s natural.
Perhaps sometimes a team doesn’t want you back so you leave as you’re an older player. Happens all the time also.
I think with the Warriors and Klay Thompson is if he’s effective still as a shooter there’s no reason he would leave. Just my opinion I don’t see it happening going to sacramento.
Especially if he’s still effective I think he stays home and the Warriors are not afraid to pay him what another team might as a reasonable salary.
What he is saying is that he wants to continue getting a big check every week.
Facts!
You are obviously jealous of him for having way more talent than you ever had.
Bro what are you talking about? Nobody here is jealous of Klay if you gonna be mean and bitter keep it to yourself LOL
How about the Detroit Pistons sign both Klay and DeMar DeRozan. All they gotta do is write the biggest check. It could be their version of Houston signing Van Vleet and Dillon Brooks. Klay and DeMar both have the clock ticking. Overpay them for two years. Just the type of guys that Cade needs around him on and off the floor. Cade, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson are your guys. Ivey has to prove himself. Whoever you draft, even if #1, ain’t gonna be a franchise guy, but will have to be given a chance to prove he belongs. This should all be able to equal a team that a year from now goes from 8 wins to 22 wins after the break with your young guys being much closer to standing on their own. Adjust from there.
Only way somebody is going to Pistons is if they get over paid. Both Thompson and DeRozan are late in their careers so they will look at winning a championship[ for which team they go to so Pistons are out.
If DeRozan is interested in a title …. Then why is he actively lobbying the Chicago Bulls to give him a new contract???? The most money wins. 95% of these dudes are only here to make as much money as possible. Just Business!
Good that Klay has started to accept the role, doing so likely extends his career by another 2-3 years.
Never understood why being a 6th man was such a big deal for guys who had been/were good enough to be starters. Using Manu as an example, he may not have started, but he played starters minutes and was on the floor at the end of games more often than not. Good players will get paid, regardless as to whether they’re in the starting lineup or not.
There’s a lot of ego behind starting. Same thing with salaries. Tons of ego behind your annual contract.
Another thing I found in talking to former players is longevity. If you’ve played 15 years that’s a massive resume and much respect.
Huh? I think you are a bit confused. He spent 20 years of his life building to something and in a freakish moment it is gone. His body can’t do what it once did. He is only 35. That’s 30 years before most people have to accept something like that. Nobody changes overnight.
At this point I feel like the Warriors could ask Klay to pay them to stay on the team lol enough already
LOL fr
Klays play for the remaining part of the season will dictate his yea and salary. He’s not going anywhere. Everyone needs to stop it.
He’s having an off year, it’s clear.
If he finds his fire again . He’ll get the drumming deal . If nit 3yrs 60 mil .
There will be teams that offer him 3 and 75
What do you mean despite? He has been playing so much better as a 6man and the team has also been better. He still getting minutes and shots, it is not like he is riding the bench lol