Contract talks between the Warriors and Klay Thompson are “essentially frozen,” according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, who reports that Thompson’s departure from Golden State feels more plausible than ever.
There’s no offer currently on the table for Thompson, and no productive talks have taken place recently between the Warriors and the veteran’s representatives, Slater writes, explaining that the team has been focused on other offseason issues, including the possibility of finding a trade involving Chris Paul‘s expiring contract.
Paul’s $30MM salary for 2024/25 is non-guaranteed but could be partially or fully guaranteed if Golden State wants to use it as a salary-matching piece. Guaranteeing it for 50%, for example, would allow it to count as $15MM in outgoing salary in a trade. League sources tell The Athletic that there have been discussions with Paul about the possibility of moving his guarantee date from June 28 to July, which could push back potential resolution with Thompson even further.
As Slater observes, if the Warriors are able to acquire an impact, high-salary player in a deal involving Paul, it would affect what they might be willing to offer Thompson, since they’d like to move below the second tax apron this offseason, or perhaps even out of the tax altogether.
Here’s more from Slater:
- One factor the Warriors are weighing in their approach to contract talks with Thompson is a belief that his free agent market may not be robust as expected. According to Slater, there has been chatter that teams may prefer shorter-term contracts for veteran free agents this summer, so Golden State may not have to top a big, longer-term bid from a rival suitor. There hasn’t been any traction between the Magic and Thompson, despite some reported mutual interest, sources tell Slater.
- Still, even if Thompson’s price comes in lower than anticipated, that doesn’t mean he’ll end up back with the Warriors. It’s “increasingly conceivable” that the five-time All-Star and four-time champion could seek a fresh start elsewhere, per Slater, who cites some “built-up friction” from the past couple seasons.
- While Kevon Looney has been viewed as a possible candidate to be released due to the structure of his contract (only $3MM of his $8MM salary is guaranteed), that’s not the Warriors’ plan right now, Slater reports. Looney’s contract will become fully guaranteed if he remains under contract through Monday, and there’s no indication at this point that he’ll be waived before then. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll remain in Golden State, since his expiring contract could be useful in a trade, Slater adds.
- As Slater explains, waiving Looney and replacing him with a minimum-salary center wouldn’t create significant cap or tax savings, and cutting him to try to re-sign him on a minimum deal isn’t an option being seriously considered, since he might get a more lucrative offer from another team in that scenario. According to Slater, the big man is still one of head coach Steve Kerr‘s favorite players and his voice is valued in the locker room.
So glad to see the drop of GSW. They make Kerr out to be sone great coach but he is not!
The fact that his core players are getting old has no bearing on Kerr’s coaching ability.
Steve Kerr’s record without Steph Curry is 67-106, a .387 winning percentage, a 31 win coach at his core. Which matches up with his time as the Suns GM, where he had zero legends coattails to ride and failed dismally. GSW should have 6 rings right now and KD would have never left if GSW fired Kerr or picked Ty Lue over him in 2014. Luke Walton unlocked this team better than Kerr ever did. I’ve seen enough of him, he’s the worst multi-champ coach of all-time. GSW won 4 rings because of Steph Curry brilliance and nothing else.
Steph is still brilliant though, so get ready for at least one last dance, Spike!
When you coach a team built around a superstar of course your record goes down when the superstar is out. Your point is garbage.
Its a team game, GSW had multiple all-stars and hall of famers…your reply is moot.
Do you understand replacing Curry with say, Chris Paul from 2014 to present means GSW is never getting past the second round, right? But replacing Kerr with Pop means GSW probably wins a title every single year that injuries don’t hurt them.
take out the year they were the worse team in the league because Curry, Thompson and Green were out most of the year.
@arc89 ok its more similar to the records of MILW without Giannis, I will stop saying this.
BS. Every team in the League would be much worse without their best player.
And every repeat NBA Champion ever had multiple great players.
I was just going to say the exact same thing.
Now do Bucks coaches without Giannis, Miami coaches without Butler, LA coaches without LeBron, Philly coaches without Embiid.
We will all be here waiting.
@reflect the Bucks are 43-48 without Giannis, a .472 winning percentage. Much better than Kerr.
I hope I didn’t keep you all here waiting!
I am a GSW fan btw! Haha!
Respectfully disagree. In addition to W/L and playoff performances, consider his handling of the team with the numerous egos. While I get what you’re trying to say, there’s way more there. And that’s not even looking at his xs and os and game management which I think is good. He could be better in some areas but he’s better than you’re giving him credit for.
“Handling of the teams egos” you mean like when Draymond punched Poole? Fail.
You’ve been spoonfed Kerr is some kind of genius, but he is utterly useless, a bottom-tier HC without Steph Curry there. Good coaches like Pop can win with anyone, Kerr is a 31 win coach at his core.
Pop hasn’t won much since Kawhi left. And he had the next unicorn this year.
Give coach Pop the GSW roster from 2014-2024 and GSW wins more games, this is fact.
You seem to have time to research. What is Phil’s record with MJ or Shaq or Kobe out of the lineup?
Its about the same as Kerr if you subtract the 15-50 season, which I hate doing because that year was his big chance to show off what an outstanding HC he is, and he didn’t do anything.
Warriors are OVER! Their time has come and gone. All dominant team’s run ends. They’ve paid hundreds of millions of dollars in luxury tax to keep an all-star team together. When you think about it, that isn’t fair to the teams that stay within the salary cap. This past year they paid $174M in luxury tax. They didn’t even make the playoffs. Almost $400M in salary to lose in the playin.
Kind of like P. Jax?
Kerr offense has helped changed the game. You may not like him. But you only show who you are. By not respecting him.
I respect Curry. I think Luke Walton is a better at being GSW’s HC than Steve Kerr. Curry is why we win, Kerr is why we lose.
Luke Walton is a better HC than Kerr? It doesn’t look like the rest of the NBA thinks the same way. He failed in Sacramento. And hasn’t been in the running for any other HC gigs since.
Letting Thompson walk is smart by GS. He wants paid for past performances. Past performances shouldn’t get u paid more, those are saved for when he retires and they have Klay night and put his jersey in the rafters.
Im a lifetime GSW fan (even through the lean years) and while I love Klay, he’s not worth more than a 1 year $12 mill deal right now. He’s still a great secondary offensive player and iconic shooter, but the defense is bad and Kerr still using him as a stretch 3 exposed how hard he fell off defensively. If Klay plays a strict 2 he’s slightly better defensively, but at this point its more neutral than plus.
If some team is dumb enough to pay him for past performance good for them. Klay is going to get a rude awakening when the offers are not mutiple years and under $25 million.
You took the words right out of my thumbs, Davey J and arc89, both of you. As a GSW fan, I have absolutely no sympathy for Klay’s side of this situation. Lacob did not have to give him the PHAT contract he rewarded Klay after that extremely unfortunate first leg injury – you come across as a decent guy, Danny Green, but wtH are you doing pushing a guy mid-air who has you beat to the basket?? – but I doubt many diehard and casual GSW fans made a gripe about it at the time (Klay proved himself to be a ‘warrior’ in every sense of the word). Times have changed though, Klay. If this truly IS the twilight tail-end of your career, you should be grateful and at least acknowledge that Lacob took care of you during the darkest period of your playing career; not every owner in the league would have done that (understandably so) for a player after a catastrophic injury.
His rejection of a GSW offer isn’t surprising after he reportedly turned down 2 for 48M last season. He values his services more than many of us amateurs who’ve watched his play.
He might look like Oladipo or Schroeder or Boogie… turning down a respectable contract only to get Jack in FA. He might end up with the MLE.
@phillyballers I agree, he blew it by turning down more money. But he still has 4 rings. At this point he should save face and tell GSW he will sign 1 year deals for the minimum so he can win more rings, and also perhaps put a huge “title clause” in his deal where he gets like $15M if they win a chip.
He already was paid for past performances. He got a 4 year max deal within a short time of his ACL injure, the team knowing he’d miss a year (though not the two he actually missed after the Achilles tear.)
He got 70M for two years of rehabbing, not playing. Great recovery he’s made, but apparently time to move on.
CP3 for Jordan Poole is going to happen again, isn’t it?
It will never happen because Poole’s contract is that bad. Warriors are trying to get under the tax limit so they are not adding huge payroll players.
You’re right, Brook Lopez for CP3 is a much better match up
Klay got almost $90 million for two years of rehab. So he got paid not to play. He is being a baby.
warriors hand are tied on looney. letting him go leaves a big gap and you end up suing so much money to fill the gap with a back up center.
It really is a conundrum. Min wage centers are usually brutal. I think GSW either keep or trade Looney, but won’t let him go.
GSW grow a pie and stop playing Mr nice guy and make some moves in order to give Curry a real shot at success.
Here’s how you do that:
3 team deal
Wiggins to Dallas
Bruce Brown to GSW
THJ and Josh Green to Toronto
Draymond Green, Moses Moody and a mutiple second round picks for Harrison Barnes and Sasha Vezkenov
Let Klay walk in FA (43m), waive CP3 (31m) and then do your best to salary dump GP2 (9m).
Now you have money to spend in FA.
LeBron James has always said how of all the players in the league he’d love to play with Curry. He will opt out and wants a chance at success before retirement too. Can tell him you’ll draft Bronny in the second round if he’s there.
After that you’ll have nothing left to spend so it’ll be a case of filling out with players for the vets min. Seth Curry comes to play with his brother. Damion Lee opts out and comes to play with his brother in law aswell. Daniel Theis gets offered the starting centre position so he comes over aswell. Then lastly Dario Saric decides to return.
Then you line up as follows:
Curry Podzi LBJ Kuminga Theis
Curry Brown Barnes Saric Looney
Lee Bronny Vekenov TJD
Curry and LBJ both get a final chance at success and together would be an insane duo. It’s a real feel good story with Bron having his son Bronny there and Steph getting both Seth and Damion there. You’ve got your classic big bruising centre in Thies, Barnes returns and Brown is almost like a Iggy replacement. Really good opportunity for the young kids in Podzi and Kuminga to learn off two of the all time greats. This team has star power, depth, defence, shooting, athleticism, it’s got it all. I’d actually love to see this although it’s very unlikely.
I like the way you think.
You would still have zero cap space in that scenario
You would have a 12.9 mill exception to use
There’s a lot better places for Lbj to go on that amount , that’s gotta be some kinda special friendship to pull off
How do you have zero cap?
Klay, CP3 and GP2 make over 80 mil combined.
The Warriors for next season would have Curry Barnes Brown Looney Kuminga and Podzi which makes up about 115 and the cap I believe is 180….
Meaning you could offer Bron the max or close to it
The cap is 141.5
A number to remember for the next couple weeks
Your confusing the aprons and the cap
Your numbers may get you down to 130 at best in which case you’d have 11.5 in cap and a 8 mill room exception ( can’t be combined )
You can get a much better team around Steph than your plan, tbh
OUT: Wiggins, CP3, GP2, Klay, maybe Podz
IN: 30 mill guy to replace CP3, another big contract to replace Wiggs, and then GP2 to either add to either deal to salary match, or get another decent piece that works better than this. GSW had Klay, Podz, CP3 and GP2 at SG last year, cant have all 3 of them any more, there’s not enough playing time. If you want to mess with Lebron and Bronny, GSW can do that if they make deals, but Podz gotta go if we draft Bronny.
Thing is, Podz is a PG and so is Steph, cant have them out there together. Moody and Steph are a much better combo, Moody has played elite defense a lot in the second half, plus is a better scorer than Podz.
Also hasn’t Harrison Barnes been adamant about not coming back?
I think you exploded the team and built about the same team. I like about half the moves but Podz+Steph together is a defensive black hole, both lack size in a game that’s trending bigger. Podz was exposed by any team who put a 6’7+” guy at the 3 anytime they switched.
Have you watch GSW at all? Curry and Moody is better than Curry and Podzi?
You do realise Podzi took over the SG role from Klay last season, starting 28 games as a rookie and Moody in his 3rd season in the league has 23 career starts….
Then you say exploded the team and built about the same….
Out goings:
Draymond CP3 Klay Wiggins Moody and GP2
Incomings:
LBJ Barnes Brown Theis Lee Curry Bronny and Vezkenov
LBJ > Dray and Klay togther
Barnes = Wiggins
Brown > CP3
Curry Bronny Lee Theis Vekenov > Moody GP2
Scoring would be up, shooting is certainly up, defence on the perimeter has regressed and depth has gotten better
LeBron is not signing with GSW so stop it. I
you sound insane brother, none of that is happening aside maybe from lebron for wiggins+podz then gsw drafts bronny to replace podz…podz is actually not great, his size is exposed on defense too much for him to ever be a main piece on a title winner, his natural position is PG, not SG…moody is natural SG who has more size and has defended better in front of me before and been a better scorer than podz in front of me before, moody has a 30+ point game already, podz would never…
yeah sure podz “took the role from klay” and guess what happened? losses and a bad postseason finish. due to podz being bad.
Moodys been in the league 3 years and has a career high of 30, Podzi in his rookie year has a career high of 25 and your saying he will never have a 30 point game.
Podzi has had more starts in 1 season than Moody in his career.
Your Moody vs Podzi take is so far off it’s silly.
Yeah, I wouldn’t watch if LBJ became a Warrior, Simmons>Russ – let him remain the Lakers’ prob..I mean..RESPONSIBILITY. When I think of trade partners, I can’t help it but I keep coming back to the Hawks – they too want to reshuffle in a big way and they’ve got several assets who would look REAL sharp in Warrior blue and yellow (or whatever the heck other colors they sport…..remember the good ol’ days of the home whites and the road colors, which typically was whatever the color the jersey number was for the home whites?). Murray, Bogdanovic and Capela are at the top of my wish list when considering what the Hawks have to offer.
Hopefully Warriors will not release Looney who signed team friendly contract 2 yrs ago. Looney passed on several more lucrative contracts. GP2 left the team and is making more money now. It wouldnt be right to penalyze Looney for his loyalty. Warriors can pay him less going forward, but honor this yr’s $8m. It will be Looney’s 10th yr and he’s only 28. He’s our Haslam!
I agree, Looney even on a restructured deal is a much better option than any other minimum wage center who would sign with us would be. Thing is, we need to trade CP3 for Robin Lopez, and make Looney Lopez’s backup.
CP3 has a non guaranteed contract. Warriors are not guaranteeing a $30M contract. With GS being a repeat luxury tax team, he would cost them $30M, plus $100M in luxury tax. Do you think he’s worth $130M.
He will not return to the Warriors to play. He is strictly a contract to trade. If you just release him you lose that slot and cannot sign a free agent because they’re over the cap. But you can trade his money for other money.
They did the same thing with D’Angelo Russell. They traded his money in the Durant sign and trade and used D’Angelo Russell’s money to get a wing in wiggins.
If they release him, they still have to pay him $3M. So basically, they are paying $5M if they keep him.
“It appears the Warriors plan on retaining one of their longtime core players for the 2024-25 NBA season: Kevon Looney.”
link to nbcsportsbayarea.com
Thanks for the link Al. That article was interesting reading plus a couple of other articles included within that page were good reading too.
Duh. He’s under contract.
The guarantee is only $3 million so there’s a chance they release him. No duh here.
Pull the plug on Thompson like you’re starting a mower
Klay still thinks he is the Klay of 2018. Since he tore his ACL and Achilles, he’s not the same guy. Still productive but not as good a defender and inconsistent on offense.
You can’t blame him for seeing if he can get more money. Shoot for the sun maybe you get the moon?
Even at his reduced effectiveness he may as well see if a team can use his shooting. Just can’t count on it in the playoffs lol
Warriors really need to move on from Thompson. His game has regressed in the last two seasons. Its over.
They need to make the best of Curry’s remaining productive years.
Wiggins was awful this season. And he is too unreliable. And what about his absence due to “personal reasons”? How many times has that happened.
I suspect Klay Thompson will re-sign with the Warriors. If there is anything to be known about NBA rumors, they are usually not true.