Several weeks after Klay Thompson tore his ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals, the Warriors re-signed him to a five-year, maximum-salary contract in a show of loyalty to a player who had helped them win three championships up to that point. However, that deal became a source of contention between Thompson and management, according to Anthony Slater and Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Thompson, who tore his Achilles a year later in a pickup game away from the team’s facility and ended up missing a second consecutive full season, later admitted he should have been more careful about his ACL rehab process. However, given what he believes he’d contributed to the team Thompson was upset to overhear team owner Joe Lacob griping about his drop-off in production and telling people that the veteran sharpshooter should be grateful Golden State gave him that contract, sources tell Slater and MacMahon.
“This was a guy who felt he left it all out there for Joe and the organization, and was then viewed as damaged goods,” one league source said to ESPN.
That was one major factor that contributed to the growing tension between Thompson and the Warriors later on in that five-year deal. While the team insists it offered Thompson a two-year, $48MM contract extension during the summer of 2023, he and his camp didn’t believe that proposal was as concrete as it was portrayed, and he eventually felt as if the team “pushed (him) out in a strategic manner” during his 2024 free agency, per ESPN’s report.
Citing league sources, Slater and MacMahon report that Thompson would like to be playing for a contender, though he says he remains hopeful that can happen with the Mavericks. Asked about the possibility of eventually reuniting with the Warriors before he retires, Thompson was noncommittal, but one league source who spoke to ESPN believes Thompson would consider it if Stephen Curry pushed for it. “There’s no one that carries more weight with Klay than Steph,” that source said.
“It would be unbelievable,” Curry said when asked about the idea. “If that time comes and that conversation is had, of course I’m calling him and saying, ‘We want you back.’ And hopefully that would be a welcome message to him. But as we stand right now, that does seem like a far distant reality. But so did him leaving.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Head coach Steve Kerr said earlier this week that the health issue affecting Al Horford (right sciatic nerve irritation) has healed. However, Horford told reporters today that he believes he’s still about a week away from returning to action as he progressing through his rehab process, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic (Twitter link).
- The Warriors’ up and down play this season has resembled the pre-Jimmy Butler version of last year’s team. Unlike in 2024/25 though, Kerr doesn’t believe the front office needs to make a roster move to jump-start the team. “It feels similar in that we’re inconsistent,” Kerr said on Wednesday, according to Friedell. “We’re around .500, but I know that we have the answer here. Last year I felt like we had to make a move. This year I don’t think that’s the case. I think we have what we need here, but we need to develop more consistency in our play and that starts with me, giving these guys more consistent roles.”
- Kerr added that there are “tricky” rotation decisions to make because he trusts so many of the players on the 18-man roster to play regular minutes. “I think we have 14, 15 guys who I feel very comfortable putting on the floor, but I also only feel comfortable playing 11 at the most each night, really 10,” Kerr said, per Friedell. “And so no matter how we slice it, I’m gonna come up here and you’re gonna ask me about three different guys and it’s fair because they can all play.”
- One player who has fallen out of the rotation as of late is rookie Will Richard, who has been a DNP-CD in the Warriors’ past two games despite making 12 starts earlier this fall. “It’s been tough not playing him because I’m a huge fan and a believer,” Kerr said during a radio appearance on 95.7 The Game (hat tip to NBC Sports Bay Area). “He offers us stability and decision-making, good shooting, so he’s just got to stay with it. Right now, frankly, he’s sitting because he’s a rookie and I’m honoring what the older guys have done over the years. I think that’s good for chemistry, I think this is kind of how it goes.”
- Asked whether the Warriors would consider the idea of trading Butler or Draymond Green, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter audio link) didn’t rule out the possibility, but noted that Curry would have to be convinced it was the right move. “I would not say it’s impossible,” Poole said. “Right now it still seems improbable.” To this point, Butler or Green have only really come up in trade speculation involving Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Trading deadline manifesto:
.500 or better? Trade the under performers and whatever first round picks to bring in a bazooka or two. Acquire rotation guys that can contribute to a playoff team.
10 games under? Sell !!!!! Get everyone in the lifeboats because the Titanic is on its way down.
Shocking news could come at the break with Kerr if he had enough.
@GaryRSW good stuff. You got 2 scenarios covered. What about these:
1. They’re 5 games under at the break in 10th place?
2. They’re 5 games over at the break in 8th place?
Number one they won’t be five games under at they All-Star break.
If it happens that they are that day, they will be 10 games under in a matter of a week.
There is no “in between.”
It’s either around .500 about or 10+ games under.
Number two, if they’re five games over at the All-Star break, they are going for it.
They’ll look for any good rotation guy who can play and play a lot and play a lot immediately. Perhaps two guys if they can swing it.
Haven’t watched a ton of warriors this year. But shocked to hear Richard isn’t playing anymore.
The couple of games I caught earlier in the year, he looked great out there. Confident, energetic, decisive. Far moreso than anything I’ve seen from Moody, and less erratic than Podziemski. Puzzling
Kerr has literally lost his mind. Richard is 100x better than Podz. Podz is the worst player on the team, but Kerr always finds 30+ mins for him to do absolutely nothing with.
Agreed, he looked great out there. I think it has more to do with the team knowing Richard will be with them past the trade deadline, and some of the other guys they are playing they must make a key decision on in the next 1.5 months.
Richard’s minimum salary four-year deal is valuable to such an expensive team. Gotta make some important decisions on Podz before he gets expensive, showcase Kuminga to other teams, etc.
Well, he was damaged goods lol
He would still be on the team if he had gracefilly accepted 6 man role, but his ego got in the way. He was locker room cancer at the end unfortunately.
Warriors are 13–14. The 9th seed with Utah, Portland, Dallas. Just 2 gms back. The Suns have a better record. And Jalen Green has hardly played this yr. Warriors @ Suns tonight …….
Warriors better pray a few teams value Kuminga. More than the geniuses fans on HoopsRumors do. Cause that is the only move that can change this team for the better.
They have a back to back with Suns. Then Magic, Mavs, Raptors, Nets, Hornets, Thunder, Jazz, Clippers, Bucks, Kings, Hawks, Blazers.
Before it gets much tougher. If there is ever going to be a time to change this season. It starts tonight with Suns. Then a good trade outcome with Kuminga on Jan 15 …….
Happy Holidays ….. 😳🙃😊
Kuminga leads the Warriors (and likely other teams) in REB/G. Yet everyone acts like he is some scrub. Kerr needs to be put in prison for how dirty he has done Kuminga, Moody and Jackson-Davis’s careers, amongst many others.
I like Jackson D too. This has been my point for yrs. If he is not what Kerr wants for his system. Then they should have traded him long ago. For players who fit what Kerr wants. Seems to me the owner stopped all trades.
If Warriors do not have a winning record after the next 14 games a few games over .500 might as well call it a season and be a seller at the deadline.
No, Kerr, with Post and TJD as the only guys over 6’7, you absolutely need to make another move if you hope to contend.
He’s saying what the coach is supposed to say. Can’t throw his players under the bus while they’re still on the team.
TJD is 6 9 but is schooled on the court by guys his same size. Some players play bigger than what they are he is not one of them. Post added weight in the off season is why he is playing better.
Kerr just word salading again, making no sense…my god this guy sucks. Worst coach in NBA history is 2023-2026 Steve Kerr. Four years and counting of this idiot handicapping his team and blowing Curry’s prime. Lacob needs to sack it up and end this madness and get us a guy who simply knows how to play his 5 best players at each position.
Richard is 6’3, play him at PG and not SF
“I think we have 14, 15 guys who I feel very comfortable putting on the floor, but I also only feel comfortable playing 11 at the most each night, really 10,” Kerr said, per Friedell. “And so no matter how we slice it, I’m gonna come up here and you’re gonna ask me about three different guys and it’s fair because they can all play.”
This is Kerrs offense. By keeping fresh shooters in game. He can wear out teams defenses. He uses a small lineup as a weapon. And depth helps him keep his foot on the gas. Unfortunately this yr. He doesn’t have enough plamakers, ballhandlers, shooters. To make his offense work. They have been inconsistent. Plus teams have figured him out.
Kerr just believes he can recreate that last chip team. Well that team had 10 players who shot 34% 3pt or better for entire playoffs. You have to give Kerr credit for pulling that off. There is a reason why he hasn’t done it since. It seems he hasn’t figured that out yet. I’m not against small ball. In today’s game every team should be able to play big or small.
“By keeping fresh shooters in game” Kerr literally benches every on-fire shooter the second they make 3 in a row. Every time.
“He uses a small lineup as a weapon.” no, he ONLY uses smallball, he uses it for well over half the game.
“He doesn’t have enough plamakers, ballhandlers, shooters.” this is also wrong, they are missing wings and bigs who can space the floor, they have TOO MANY playmakers in Draymond, Jimmy, Steph, Melton, Podz, Spencer and even Kuminga.
“I’m not against small ball.” typical lifetime loser knicks fan “I love 13-14 ball!!” so you hate winning then. Smallball is dead in the NBA. Period. Fact.
Thats the point lol. He only plays small. He still believes in his system. You need players for a system. You can’t just plug in new players.
Regardless, GSW is lacking wings and bigs, that’s all they need. Ideally they get a wing or big who can put up 30 points in his sleep…like Giannis…
Lacob was more than fair with Klay. He gave him multiple opportnities to stay with Warriors – the final one 2 yrs $40m. He left for 3 yr $51m. Lacob is one of a kind and amzing business acuman. We are all so lucky
The dynamic betwwen Lacob and Kerr is something to monitor in the next few weeks. Kerr is accomplished as they come but it’s easy to see there are clashes between them. What happened with Kumimga is the worst because Kerr basically showed Lacob up. I am 100% certain that Lacob and Dunleavy asled Kerr to start and play Kuminga. Kerr reluctantly went along anf literally faked it. He was so indifferent about it like a robot and that’s not what Lacob wanted. He wanted Kerr to embrace, coach, and assimiliate Kuminga. Kerr didnt care. He wanted Kuminga to fail. He wanted to probe that he was right and Lavob was wrong. Lacob is NOT happy with this. He’s pretty sure that Kerr didnt give 100% with Kuminga in those 12 games. Think about it. Kumimga was the last one to be substituted. Kuminga was the first ome to re-enter the game. DOWN to the script. It was such a fake. We all know that sometimes, you take him early, find good matchups, motivate him, and somehow make sure he succeeds. Instead, he made sure he failed. Kerr rather l play Spencer to make a point. Lacob is so upset. He tells kerr he must play Kuminga. Goodness. They are also ansolutely upset about Podz too. Let’s all get popcorn and see how these 2 stubborn amd proud men handle this saga.
@Michol that is mostly right.
Agreed, Michol. That is basically all facts. Like I said above, Steve Kerr from the Draymond Punch-to present is the worst HC in the NBA. No one gets less from more. He has the talent, even in the middle of the game the Dubs always go out to a huge lead. Then out come the undersized guards who play zero defense and have zero size, the opps run riot on the glass, GSW loses another winnable game.
Name anything good Steve has done well since 2023. I guess developing Podz by giving him unlimited minutes, but having him leapfrog over Moody on the depth chart has incensed me to no end ever since it happened. Moody is good and fits the system, Podz is not good and does not fit the system. Podz should not be getting top 4 minutes per game, for any reason.
I was upset Podz leaped over both Kuminga and Moody in Podz rookie yr. They both waited their opportunities patiently and a rookie overleapt them in their 3rd yr. That’s when they lost the belief in the system. Podz now know how it feels with both Richards and Spencer sometimes getting his minutes, not to mention the journeymen. It’s not as simple as whoever plays the best at the time. It’s about hierarchy on the team, it’s about knowing your role, it’s about building trust and confidence, it’s also about building their image and getting extensions. Kerr failed all of them except for Poole, and then the Punch, lol.
Just from what I’ve read about who’s available and who needs what, I’m surprised I haven’t heard this one suggested:
Gafford and Klay for
Kuminga and Heild
The money works, Warriors get a big, and Mavs get a wing. I’m guessing Klay and Buddy have roughly equal value, but how high would Mavs value JK?
I would like this trade if Giannis, Zubac, Sabonis etc are off the board and unavailable. This is a fine “make a trade to make a trade” type move. Gafford would mean a LOT to GSW, they become better with him alone. Klay placates Steph, Buddy placates Jimmy…if you are removing Buddy, might as well trade Jimmy too…
It’s just so insane, like, how can we all see GSW’s roster and how only there are no stretch SG-SF’s on the roster, but Kerr believes all his SG’s are also SF’s. Huge misstep that is the root cause of all these terrible rotations. Just play the strict SG’s at SG and their talent will be maximized. Kerr is still playing 3 guard lineups though, plenty of them in the loss to the Suns. Makes no sense, it’s only causing bad losses.
Then there’s the whole “going back on what he says at press conferences” over and over.
Then there’s the Will Richard getting DNPs when he is clearly playing better alongside Steph at the SG spot. Because Podz has to be top 4 mins on the team, when is he like the 12th most talented guy on the team.
How can you argue GSW’s woes are not entirely on the head coach not doing any aspect of his job well, at all. The talent is there, GSW has a large lead in almost every loss. It’s not like they are being outplayed, it’s all on Kerr putting baffling rotations out there. Just hitting the same “go small” button on repeat. Makes too much money to be this bad. Insane season tbh. Glad GSW kinda always plays inconsistently like this every Nov+Dec now thanks to Kerr just flat out refusing to do his job correctly.