With Klay Thompson just 24 hours away from reaching unrestricted free agency, the Warriors are preparing to lose their longtime sharpshooter and four-time NBA champion, league sources tell Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
According to Charania and Slater, the Warriors and Thompson haven’t had much contact as of late and the team hasn’t made him a formal contract offer since the exclusive negotiating window opened after the NBA Finals.
The club has expressed interest in circling back to the five-time All-Star after addressing other business, including figuring out what to do with Chris Paul and his non-guaranteed $30MM expiring salary.
However, Thompson’s side believes Golden State’s interest in a reunion has been “disingenuous,” per The Athletic’s duo, who say he “never felt reciprocated love from management about his firm place in the franchise’s plans.”
As a result, the 34-year-old is determined to find a new home, league sources tell Charania and Slater, and both sides believe their 13-year run together is about to come to an end.
The Lakers, Clippers, and Mavericks are expected to be among Thompson’s top suitors, though all three teams project to be over the cap and would have to negotiate a sign-and-trade. Golden State has been open to the idea of accommodating such a deal in order to maximize Thompson’s earning potential, sources tell The Athletic.
Multiple clubs with cap room are expected to be in the mix too, per Charania and Slater. The Sixers and Magic are among the cap-space teams that have been linked to the longtime Warrior in recent days.
Marc Stein, who reported on Friday night that there’s “strong” mutual interest between Thompson and the Mavericks, tweets that LeBron James is hopeful the Lakers can make a bid to challenge Dallas for the veteran swingman. For his part, Thompson is intrigued by the Lakers possibility and plans to talking to both them and the Mavs, among other potential suitors, tweets Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.
All good things come to an end. 4 rings. Warrior 4 life regardless but it’s time.
This is all drama until something real happens. Like Kerr was on the radio 2 days ago talking about how they must have Klay back, and Kerr has a huge say in this.
Im sure someone talked to him about the reasons they had to work in this order.
On top of that the most likely scenario where the team couldnt make him a competitive offer was if they made a deal for Paul George. Im not even thinking its all that likely they make a move with the CP contract.
The NBA is so full of reporters causing drama with poorly sourced “rumors”. He would be taking 5-12M from any of the suiters not in PHI/ORL, like why would he leave to chase the money for less money, since I know the Ws cant get away with offering anything that poor for a franchise icon.
Agree
Warriors are disingenuous.
SNT is what I want. Warriors need to get something good in return
Lmao good luck with that
It is impossible for the Warriors to sign and trade Klay thompson. The rules as they stand and their situation prohibit it.
Zero chance of that happening.
Chris Paul is a different story. Dubs hope to getting someone back for him before tomorrow’s deadline.
False
The Warriors in no way shape or form are disingenuous. Steve Kerr desperately wants Klay Thompson back but he’s not in charge. He can say that and lie about it and it is a compliment to Klay thompson. He is doing a favor with the optics. But other people make the decisions.
Number three when Klay tore his acl, and he was guaranteed to miss the next season entirely, the Warriors still signed him to a Max extension. They did Klay Thompson good and that’s 100% truth.
I’m no Warriors fan but I find it sad that they can’t come to terms. Klay Thompson should retire as a Warrior.
I agree, but there are other examples of players not retiring with the teams they should, including:
Willie Mays (retired with the Mets)
Hank Aaron (Retired with the Brewers)
D Wade
Tony Parker (retired with the Hornets)
Aaron started his career with the Milwaukee Braves so he did come home to retire, so to speak.
Willie Mays wanted to retire a Met. He loved NY.
Started as a NY Giant
Willie Mays did not love New York, and the idea the lifelong Giant should retire a met is blasphemous and delusional. He bled orange and black and was a frequent fixture in San Francisco, long after retirement. I would have thought if a guy loved New York so much he would have, you know, chosen to live there?
link to ny1.com
Ignorance is a choice ……
He continued playing because he was broke. And nothing to do where to retire. But the only team that would sign him was his hometown Mets so it worked out for both. Sentimental player returning plus a couple of more paydays.
Many examples; some others that come to mind without referring to the ‘net………
Joe Montana (Chiefs)
Roger Craig (Raiders?)
Ronnie Lott (Raiders?)
Jerry Rice (Broncos or Seahawks?)
Emmitt Smith (Cardinals?)
Tom Brady
Reggie White (Packers?)
Wilt Chamberlain
Bill Walton (no way he woulda played for 3 teams if he had stayed healthy)
Hakeem Olajuwon (Raptors?? Ridiculous)
Patrick Ewing (no ring – but still the cringe – to see him in Sonic and Magic uniforms)
Paul Pierce
Wade Boggs (Yankees??)
Madison Bumgarner
Albert Pujols (Dodgers)
Ozzie Canseco
I believe Reggie White had just as good years in Green Bay (or better) as he did with Philly. Won a Super Bowl with the Packers (not the Eagles) and was widely beloved by Packers fans. It’s not like he went there for one year at the end of his career after he was washed up.
Michael freaking Jordan
Since the Clippers and Lakers are both way over the cap how can they sign Thompson since he wants a big contract? Do not forget he turned down a 2 year $48 million deal to stay with warriors.
True, but now I think it’s going to become more about principle than dollars for Klay. Dray got paid last year, yet the Warriors didn’t put out the same term or dollars that they put out to a guy who is diminished and was suspended for a good portion of the season. It would not shock me to see him take a full mid-level from someone who wants and will start him.
They offered him a $24 million a year deal for 2 years which he declined. that would be almost the same amount Green gets. Klay didn’t mind not playing for 2 years and getting $47,000,000 a year while out. They could have let him go instead of giving him a extension after the accident knowing he would be out at least a year.
Yeah the Warriors should have definitely just let Klay go when he got injured. That would have been a great look and definitely not pissed off Steph/Dray/Kerr etc. Complaining about that extension now is hilarious, especially knowing that he would go on to win another ring for your team. What a wild take from someone who is supposed to be a Golden State fan.
Not complaining about a extension bonecat. That sure went over your head. I am complaining that the good faith they gave Thompson when he was injured but he doesn’t even return the favor. Instead he gets mad about not getting a max contract when he is at the end of his career. Why did he break off negotiations and stop following his team?
Draymond isn’t diminished in any facet. His season numbers were right in line with his career numbers and the team struggles without him.
Not acknowledging the clear mental decline with Dray is crazy to me. He was a liability every time he was on the floor and his numbers weren’t the reason. The guy literally had to be talked out of retirement because Adam Silver told him he can’t punch people in the head when he gets a wittle angwy…
The guy literally had to be talked out of retirement because Adam Silver told him he can’t punch people in the head when he gets a wittle angwy… Things that NEVER happened for $400 Alex.
@arc89…..Clickbait
Cap never applies to the Lakers. Thump City!
But some on here will still be adamant that the window isn’t currently closed.
The window isn’t closed until Steph Curry stops being elite. Sorry you hate facts.
Curry being elite doesn’t make the warriors a contender David, sorry to burst your birthday cake induced bubble.
You might want to look up the definition of “fact” in the dictionary. You aren’t using it correctly.
it’s time for klay to move on to another team. his defense has been so incredibly terrible and no effort on that end either. give moody a chance or sign a guy like kcp who is a lockdown defender.
Warriors keep Klay! The window for shooting is never closed. Bring in some actual talented size for once. Someone over 6’10 who can defend the rim would do wonders for the warriors. Keep Kuminga and Podz but use other guys to get some size!
Use Wiggins to get Poetl, Lopez, Ayton, Jarrett Allen. I would like to see Wiggins in Canada revamp his career back home!
Steve Kerr stepping aside would be great for everyone.
Are you still here with your nonsensical spice hallucinating takes.
He has multiple accounts, best to ignore them all.
They are going to have to attach picks or young players to get rid of Wiggins and his contract. The same reasons you want to get rid of him are why other teams are not going to want him unless it is to dump a bad contract of their own. Or do you think other NBA teams are going to give up useful players for a guy that even you admit needs to revamp his career?
Of course there needs to be more but Wiggins contract will be needed to get anyone useful
Honestly the warriors window is CLOSED…moving on from Klay and his $$$ demands is smart
Warriors have a better chance than about 90% of the league. Try harder.
lol the warriors run is over. They’re finished.
A better chance than 90% of the league? LOL. If you think the Warriors have the 3rd best chance to win the title next season you are either insane or a delusional Warriors fan …or both.
90% of 30 teams is 27. So you’re saying only 3 teams have a better title chance than the team that just finished 10th in the western conference?
Celtics, Bucks, Knicks, Nuggets, Thunder, Wolves, Mavs are all certain, plus probably the 76ers after this offseason. One could reasonably form an argument for a team like the Clippers (unless they lose George) or Cavs, too.
Was about to comment exactly this. 90% is a ridiculous number. Especially with no clear path for improvement for the Warriors. Just more delusion from the worst fan base in sports.
Worst fan base in sports? Don’t cross the line. I take exception to anyone grouping everyone into a small group of folks you don’t agree with. Don’t go there.
Oh, brother. If it were the Yankees being called out you wouldn’t say a word.
What does that even mean. Who gives a rip about the yankees. It’s not even part of the conversation what are you even talking about. You just like to create arguments out of thin air? You’re no better than the original poster. Seriously what does your comment really even mean? Ridiculous. The Yankees LOL. They’re like in first place who’s talking trash about them?
You just like to stir the pot don’t you. I’m a Red Sox fan so you bring up the yankees. Yankees are a great organization and it seems like every year the Red Sox are looking up at them. Those are facts. But the Yankees fan base and the Warriors fan base have nothing to do with each other here. Can’t even believe I’m responding to this LOL what a clown.
Philly fans are known as the worst fans in all of sports. They even boom their own players. People hate warrior fans because there is so many of them and when they travel to other arenas they sometimes out number hometown fans.
I know I’m a little late to the party here but just want to add on like everyone else how foolish you look by saying you think the Warriors are one of the top 3 contenders next year. They are barely in the top 50% according to Vegas haha Just comical. Get sober.
Klay has seemed unrealistic about his abilities in the last few seasons so I can see why not to keep him. Their tax bill is insane and if he won’t take less l, it is what is is
Let him walk. He wants to get paid for what he’s done, because he certainly won’t earn what he wants. For GSW, not worth paying more in taxes to keep the optics going.
At this point who cares. Warriors are cooked with or without him. There’s no loyalty, it’s a business.
You said this is in 2022 as well. Try harder kid.
I did? It must have really got to you if you still remember. Regardless, Warriors are cooked with or without him. Just not their year.
How about this is the weakest era ever
No loyalty? The dude was going to be out for a year and they gave him a Max contract. Then they offered his old butt 50 million bucks and he turned it down. So where’s the loyalty? I think the player is not being loyal here.
But don’t take that the wrong way. It’s all business and I’m all about Klay leaving. Whatever he and or the team needs to do.
But don’t tell me the Warriors are not loyal. That’s incorrect
This is 100% on Klay and his refusal to accept reality. He’s not a player worth the money he’s demanding, especially under the new CBA.
I just hope Lacob doesn’t cave in and have the warriors take back players they don’t need to give Klay the contract he wants. I would hate to see him in a Lakers uniform unless we get back good players in the deal.
arc, they can’t take back players for Klay Thompson. But they are working on Chris paul. They can take back players and contracts and the rest of it.
Sure he is. He’s worth whatever the highest team bids.
Klay should have taken the GSW offer. I can’t stand the warriors but they were very good to him. He really has slipped as a player.
Klay is not the player he was. You can’t pay him and think you can field a competitive team. Unless he takes less. He’s gone.
Sign-n-trade maybe
Speaks volumes about Klay’s negative energy he brings to the team. They will be better just getting rid of him even if they add nobody
Good point. I agree
Glad you agree with yourself. Remember to switch accounts next time!
Speaking on Behalf of Warrior Fans: We want Klay GONE. We love that brotha’ but his defense is horrible and shot selection is worse.
If a team is crazy enough to give him 25 Mill a year I say he better jump on that one. It doesn’t matter if you average 17 points a game if you give up 30, and if your 17 comes with a low field goal percentage and turnovers.
It’s amazing to me how many Dubs guys have just completely switched their opinions on Klay. A month and a half ago everyone said Klay still had gas in the tank.
Yes there was a bunch of those guys. But a few of us called it two months ago and said he’s gone.
He has gas in the tank but not for $50 million a year max contract. So you think he is still a max player. SMH
It is not amazing. It is pretty normal. All players retire at some point. At certain point, you realize it is time to move on. It appears to be time to move on from Klay.
Thompson has been liability the past two seasons. Time to cut the cord.
Let him walk.
Here’s the story. Klay signs with the Lakers for a lot less money and the excuse will be NOT that he is TRUTHFULLY taking the best and only contract he can get.
The reason for taking such a small dollar amount will be that he’s going home to LA and playing with LeBron so that’s why he’s going for the small contract.
Look for the headline in the next couple of days saying exactly this.
So it’ll be the Lakers and not the Mavericks or magic.
That’s feasible. But so is signing for the highest total dollar amount possible. I think there is a world in which the 76ers throw years at him to get him at a reasonable AAV but a good amount of total money.
Okay so you are capable of a basketball conversation? Well good for you. Glad to see it.
I really don’t see the opportunity that Klay has for a nice contract. There’s the Sixers there’s the Mavericks there’s the magic and who else?
He’s going to have to settle for less and I think the Warriors ship has sailed.
He’ll take the Lakers offer and claim he’s going home and playing with LeBron and the rest of that. I think it happens with the lakers.
When Kings re-signed Monk for 78m/4yrs, and Klay declined 50m/2yrs, the story should be ended and let him go IMMEDIATELY.
I think that’s what actually did happen. But for everything that Klay Thompson has done, Kerr will say certain things and management won’t throw Thompson under the bus just yet. But yes I’m sure the decision was made months ago. I saw it, many of us saw it.
You make a great point about Malik monk. But you can’t fault Klay for testing the waters. Only thing is when he jumps in, they will be icy cold and that Laker 12 million per year is going to look like the only thing he has available.