Warriors wing Klay Thompson had his worst game of the season at the most inopportune time on Tuesday, as he went 0-from-10 from the field and was held scoreless in 32 minutes of action during Golden State’s season-ending play-in loss to the Kings.
It’s an inauspicious way for Thompson to wrap up a contract year, but his head coach and longtime teammates made it clear after the game that they still want to see the 34-year-old sign a new deal with the Warriors this summer, writes Kendra Andrews of ESPN.
“We need Klay back,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters. “He’s still got good years left. And I know I speak for everybody in the organization: We want him back. … What Klay has meant to this franchise and as good as he still is, we desperately want him back.”
Draymond Green and Stephen Curry, who have won four championships with Thompson during their time in Golden State, agreed with Kerr’s assessment of the situation.
“(Klay is) going to make the best decision for him, the team’s got a decision to make and they’ll make the best decision for the team. … I don’t think there’s any scenario where Klay leaves and that’s the best decision for this team and organization,” Green said. “(The organization) has shown nothing but respect, loyalty, love and trust. I’ve got no reason to think, ‘Oh man, they’re not going to do right by Klay.'”
“I could never see myself not with those two guys (Thompson and Gren),” Curry said. “I understand this league changes and there are so many things that go into it and we’re not going to play forever, but we’ve experienced so much together and at the end of the day I know they want to win, I know I want to win, and that’s all I’m worried about.”
As Andrews writes, extension discussions between Thompson and the Warriors stalled in October and were put on the back-burner during the season. While Andrews suggests there were no reassurances from the team that the two sides would eventually work something out, there’s still reportedly mutual interest in a new deal.
Sources tell ESPN that Thompson would ideally like a contract that aligns with the rest of the Warriors’ core. Curry, Green, and Kerr are all under contract through at least 2026.
Here’s more on the Warriors as their offseason begins:
- Tim Kawakami of The Athletic also explores Thompson’s upcoming free agency, predicting that the Warriors will make a fair offer, possibly in the range of $20MM per year for two or three seasons. If another team exceeds that offer, it will likely come down to whether Thompson wants a change of scenery or would take a little less to stay in Golden State, Kawkami writes.
- Veteran point guard Chris Paul, who will turn 39 next month, made it clear on Tuesday that he doesn’t intend to retire, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll be back with the Warriors, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Kerr told reporters that he “loves” coaching Paul and that he “really hopes” the Warriors are able to retain him. However, it probably isn’t practical for the team to keep Paul on his non-guaranteed $30MM contract, and the Warriors would lose any form of Bird rights if they waive him. Within his story on Thompson, Kawkami suggests that CP3 “almost certainly” won’t remain in Golden State.
- In addition to exploring Thompson’s free agency and Paul’s future in his preview of the Warriors’ offseason, Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link) discusses the organization’s financial outlook and roster-building restrictions while pointing out that Jonathan Kuminga will be extension-eligible beginning in July. The Warriors spent a total of $382.5MM on this year’s roster in salary and tax penalties, Marks notes (via Twitter).
- The Warriors have no interest in tanking and still plan to make the most of Curry’s remaining seasons, sources tell ESPN’s Zach Lowe (Insider link).
- Within his look at what’s next for the franchise, Lowe suggests Andrew Wiggins is a possible trade candidate, but cites sources who say that Wiggins’ contract (three years, $85MM) may be viewed as a negative asset by potential trade partners, who would ask Golden State to attach a more valuable asset to take it on. Lowe adds that Golden State’s front office “remains very high” on Kuminga’s potential as the young forward becomes extension-eligible.
“(The organization) has shown nothing but respect, loyalty, love and trust.“
I don’t think Jordan Poole would agree, Draymond.
Ridiculous statement. They paid him when he shouldn’t have been paid, relax
Nothing to do with the contract. You guys are missing the point entirely, lol.
L comment. He’s rich beyond words right now because of his contract extension given to him by the Ws, which was based on potential and a decent year.
So the Warriors made a deal because his potential… but the deal didn’t work out…. So thats some sort of charity by the owners or something? It amazes me how has soon as money enters the conversation people turn the logic in their brain all the way off.
It certainly isn’t disrespectful to extend a young player when you don’t need to, which is the entire point, but, do you.
Hard to make a case for Klay deserving anywhere near $20M/yr. It’ll be interesting to see if the Jazz, Magic type tier teams offer him more than GSW.
Warriors definitely shouldn’t overpay for nostalgia but I’m sure they will.
I sure hope not. Klay needs to be gone. I think there’s hope for that with Bob Myers gone and Mike Dunleavy in. The Nostalgia has been great for 10 years but now we’re done.
Myers left because they committed to Draymond…. This decision is clearly above Dunleavy
Klay is now just a role player. He may get stretches of good performances, but most of the time you can find someone cheaper to do what does. The playoffs you need to be on almost every game, he can’t do that now.
Just checking on the 3-pt makes for the season:
1. Stephen Curry • GSW 357
2. Luka Dončić • DAL 284
3. Donte DiVincenzo • NYK 283
4. Klay Thompson • GSW 268
Klay won’t get top $ but numbers like these don’t lie. He’ll take a big pay cut and re-sign with the Dubs in the neighborhood of 22 mil for 3 years with team option for the third year. He’s already made nearly 270 mil, and like other proven vets on the downside of their time in the NBA, he’ll re-sign on a team-friendly deal. He had a really bad game, like the rest of the team, but he’s not done and neither are the Warriors.
Time to tear it down.
Klay should definitely sign elsewhere.
Draymond has got to go
I’d keep Wiggins as a 6th man to lead the second unit
But next year starting 5 should be
Curry
Podziemski
Moody
Kuminga
Looney
Give the kids the reigns.
Bench will consist of
Wiggins, Payton ||, Jackson Davis
I’d honestly buy a late 1st and early 2nd and take Zach Edey and Tyler Kolek to fill back up C and PG roles.
Then look to bring back Kelly Oubre and bring in Luka Samanic and Malik Monk in FA.
Pg: Steph Payton || Kolek
Sg: Podziemski Monk Oubre
Sf: Moody Wiggins Oubre
Pf: Kumgina Jackson Davis Samanic
C: looney edey
I like the thought process, only issue is going to be finding a team to take on Draymond’s almost 75M contract for the next 3 years. Noone’s exactly going to be jumping at that. Seems like the Warriors put themselves in a hole with it.
I dont see how this comes together. If they cut CP3 they are at 144 million , you can go 137 if you cut Looney also. Thats 9-10 players. So you have 29 million for the 2 rookies, Monk, Oubre, and Samanic. I dont really see it, besides it would only go via SIGN and Trade. or Minimum deals and the MLE.
Thats not how it works sis
Any team over the cap proj (144) the will just have the 13 mill full MLE and Bi annual as well but that’s peanuts for 4.5
This is why Klay probably is back via Bird rights
Your confusing the lux tax line with the cap line
That’s a lot of moving parts and what ifs, but I like your vibe and agree I’d rather blow it up than patch it up for nostalgia purposes.
Nostalgia is all that front office knows. They don’t have a serious plan to rebuild or “retool” until Steph retires.
I think their biggest problem going forward is convincing the young guys that staying is their best option. If they sit through 2-3 more years of this commitment to nursing homes Big 3, would you want to stay? But money talks I guess.
could have just said, “I agree.”
Well, it’s over. Got bounced big time last night by the up-and-coming kings. I like the Kings against the Pelicans and think perhaps they might be able to challenge OKC.
Yes OKC has arrived but the kings are also young and long and fast.
Go Kings !!!
How can you not like the perennial laughingstock of the league on the come up with dynamic youngsters and solid role players in this case. If it wasn’t the Ws, it’s gotta be the Kings. And they’ve got Gary Gerould on play by play as well. Great guy and a pleasure to listen to.
You’re a whole year late dude
They haven’t won anything yet, ergo, still on the come up. Or you’re a troll. Leaning towards the latter.
Kings were the 3 seed last year, if you think winning a play in game is the turning point to make a team “on the come up” I can’t imagine how feel about the Bulls
Glad to see you didn’t curl up in a ball and die Gary. It was a fun game. Curry and Kuminga did their best to claw back but man Klay Thompson….
As a Warrior fan I have to know – what do you think Klays value is contract wise? 20 million for multiple years seems awful steep for someone who struggled all year and then built a brick house in their most important game.
Second – right now, right this very moment, setting aside history and only living in this moment, would you rather have Klay Thompson or Keon Ellis?
It was a good game and it was nice to see Sacramento’s mixture of veterans, youth, length, defense, and great coaching.
Klay’s value is not 20 million dollars. I’d rather have Grayson Allen for 17. They have to let him walk and not even consider bringing him back. Let him get 20 million for 2 years on a team that needs an outside shooter and let them take a gamble on Klay.
Absolutely Keon ellis. I want Klay out of there. Do not re-sign him. So any nice young player would be a fantastic replacement. Klay screwed the Warriors last year against the Lakers 3-15, 2-13 and last night against the Kings 0-10. I’m done.
Klay also played poorly 2 yrs ago in the postseason when Warriors won. That titlegave a Warriors a false pretense that can keep the trio together. Draymond has to go as well even though he can still play at high level. Wiggins has to go because he’s mentally unreliable. GP2 has to go because he’s injury proned and his contract is only worth it on a contender. The only vet I would like to keep is Looney who hopefully will become our Haslem.
2/30 and Klay stays
There not ducking under cap and there not really threatening the tax line next year…Its really just money at that point, if anythimg it becoems good trade foddler
Agree with most all of it, but Klay will re-sign at a greatly reduced team friendly number. Also, really liked your question about Klay or Keon Ellis. I’d say both will be key pieces for the next 2 or 3 years.
Drayton killed their season. Congrats big guy! More time for podcasting now.
Warriors have been Pretenders all along. It was almost another total wasteful yr but they did develop Kuminga, Podz, Trayce, and Moody somewhat. They should have played them much more. Regardless, Warriors are in big trouble for many yrs to come. They are permanently play in team at best. There is simply so solution to their demise due to team screwing up draft assets few yrs back, delaying rebuilding process, and not gathering assets at trade deadlines. It doesnt matter what they do, they will just be average at best.
So what to do?????? Complete total rebuild and everbody has to go thru severe growing pain. All the vets has to go and unfortunately Curry has to go too. Warriors could have kept him if they didnt screw up, but now Warriors have no choice.
As much as I think you’re right about needing to move Curry so that the rebuild doesn’t take 12 seasons, there is not one shot in the coldest part of hell that Curry doesn’t finish his career in Golden State. Especially after building a new arena. Regardless of post season success they need to sell tickets. Tickets cost a lot more when you have Curry on your team. Im sure they’d love to sell Curry jerseys for the next 30 years as well.
Exactly. And that is why Warriors will be a play in team at best and more likely a lottery team. And once Curry retires, Warriors will be a bottom team twice as long for delaying the rebuild.
Money talks. Especially in the bay area.
You may as well go all in…and have the team re-locate to Topeka.
I liked watching Chris Paul and his elevation of the 2nd unit. But I can’t see him staying with the warriors. You don’t want to have the shortest and the oldest team in the league.
39 is old enough to join the NBAARP
Wow. The Kings have their biggest win against the Warriors since 2006 AND advance to the next play in game, and we got a whole story about how Klay Thompson is old and the Warriors are committed to staying old…
Things that should be said :
Wow Keegan Murray – if he can find this kind of consistency moving forward he’s going to be dangerous
Keon Ellis – anyone who’s been unfortunate enough to see me rant underneath Kings posts knows the songs Ive sung for Ellis. When Huerter went down I said that was a blessing in disguise and it certainly was.
Refs – seemed like they remembered last years series and said “well then we just wont call anything” Don’t know the exact numbers but it felt like the majority of shooting fouls were called on 3pt shots.
Mike Brown – I watched Brown do something I dont think Kerr has the stones to do at this point in his tenure with the Warriors. Keon got called for a travel and started to saunter back while the Warriors were inbounding. Mike Brown was LIVID with Keon, who you could argue had been the most impactful player on the court. Both when the Warriors brought up the ball and then when the Kings went back up the court, Brown was screaming at Keon so loud you could hear it through the broadcast. Hard coaching. Exactly what this squad needs.
Thompson didn’t struggle post AS game. 41% from 3. 95% free throws, 19 ppg. Those stats make him worth $30 mil, league going rate. So that’s what it’ll cost to keep him. 2 or 3 at $30mil/yr
Holy hell…. There is no way that even one working cell in your brain thinks Klay Thompson is not only worth 30 million next year, but for multiple years. I mean thats more than the Warriors offered him before he had to be benched and didn’t show up for the play in. You’ve blown my mind
Well, you incorrectly said Thompson sucked all year so your mind is already “blown” because he had a great post allstar game. His next contract will have nothing to do with last night. But I’ll confess this: Bobby Marks, the NBA contracts expert, predicts the numbers I stated. 2/$60 mil or 3 years. So my first post was admittedly not original. Do I believe he’s worth it? Doesn’t matter. It’s what the NBA believes that matters.
I believe that you believe that the NBA believes Klay is worth that much. Doesn’t make you or Bobby Marks (dude what? lol) less wrong.
From web: Bobby Marks (born July 9, 1973) is the NBA Front Office Insider for ESPN, previously performing this position for Yahoo! Sports’ The Vertical. He had previously spent 20 years working in the NBA, the last five as assistant general manager of the Brooklyn Nets. Marks began his work for ESPN in July 2017.
Dude what. Lol.
Oh man! Silly me! I guess I should listen to Windhorst and SAS too right? Make your own opinions clown.
Dude thinks Klay is worth 30 mil a year . LMFAO
Ridiculous. Dubs fans can’t help themselves
Dubs fans?
Yes Gary. Dubs fans. “When the Warriors win”
I’ve tried being congenial with you and having basketball discussions. But you make it very very difficult because you come in with with your gloves on.
You make it tough to be friendly because your constant poking and grinding and peppering and agitating words are tough to engage a conversation with.
You can’t say “dubs fans.” In this world today putting one label on a group of people is absolutely wrong, you should know that. We are individuals.
There’s many great warriors fans on this site. If I say something you don’t like, talk to me. Don’t blame all Warriors fans for something I wrote.
Gary two days ago you started a paragraph by saying “When the Warriors beat the Kings”. That is a sentiment shared across your fanbase. Pompousness. The acting as if your franchise is the team of destiny. Its not just on this platform either. Its rampant across both the internet and in person interactions.
Excuse me if I take issue with you or someone like you displaying this disrespect on a franchise I’ve watched my whole life that’s been a magnet of disrespect and mockery. You can talk sweet after the game. Doesn’t change what you said before the game.
May the ghost of Klay Thompson haunt you for years to come.
Everything must come to an end. Klay and Draymond’s end has arrived and it did a lot sooner than Steph’s.
They can keep everybody together but you have to understand if you do that you are not contending for championships anymore. If they are ok with that, then ok.
But dont pretend you are trying to win and build a contending team, just be honest that you are not interested in winning anymore and you just want to make your legends happy.
Night night,frustration is obvious,choking players,showing off 4 fingers,chewing mouthguard and hiding under your jersey.Man up,be a champion,be a legend,but the way they acted lately,they turned from one of the most loved teams to one of the most hated teams
Warriors should trade Dre and Wiggins.
To people ragging on Green:
Warriors were 33-22 in the games Green played. If it weren’t for the suspensions, Warriors easily would have made the playoffs.
They need his defense.
Blame guys like Wiggins and Thompson, who regressed big time this season.
Absolutely agree. Draymond was one of the bright spots of how the Warriors played last night. Lethal on defense under the basket all night
You hear Meyers talking smack about Knicks. ………..
we don’t care who we play. Watch it with all the Warriors …….
Lmfao I have been saying Klay is cooked all year, and he just proved it on the biggest stage.
What an embarrassing game from him.
If the warriors actually pay him on a new deal they are just going to continue getting worse and worse every year