The Warriors organization acknowledged in a press release on Monday that longtime shooting guard Klay Thompson will not return while promising to retire his jersey.
Thompson is headed to the Mavericks in a three-team sign-and-trade deal that will also include the Hornets.
Golden State’s statement reads, in part:
“We can’t overstate Klay Thompson’s incredible and legendary contributions with the Warriors during his 13 years with the team, highlighted by four NBA championships, six trips to the NBA Finals, five NBA All-Star Game appearances and several NBA records, including the most points ever scored in a quarter in NBA history (37) and the most 3-point field goals in a game (14). … Klay’s legacy will live on forever and we look forward to the day we can retire his #11 jersey at Chase Center, where he will join a host of Warriors immortals, including those who helped shape this recent dynasty—himself included.
“We thank Klay for his contributions and wish him the best as another chapter in his journey is written.”
The statement can be somewhat construed as an olive branch after extension talks fizzled and the relationship between the team and the five-time All-Star reportedly grew strained. That led to Saturday’s news that he intended to leave the Warriors for a new team.
I support Warriors decision for big revolution
I really want to trade Draymond to Knicks or Mavs next
Make Warriors Young again
It’s painful to watch so many old legs
Trade Dray and Moody to Knicks for Randle and Dadiet
Dadiet is the 25th pick, 18 years old
Hell nah, I want Draymond out but not for bum ahh Julius Randle
K. So who is actually going to trade for Green and what are you expecting them to give you in return?
It was just a matter of time. IMO I thought it would be Draymond the first to go
They unfortunately decided to keep him and take care of him while alienating the rest of the roster.
Alienating the rest of the roster? Where do people come up with these things?
This whole article is full of comments from bitter fans of both the Warriors and other teams.
Get a clue people, they want to get under the luxury tax for the first time in a decade. They sent out two guys that are 35 and 40 years old. They’ll be fine.
The owner spent plenty of money the last 12 years. Yet Warriors fans are not satisfied and bitter fans from other teams are kicking them while they’re down.
I get being under the salary. Also acknowledge Klay is a different player now. Defensively he can keep up with only big wings/small 4s. I just think he was kinda scapegoated. When other guys preformed worse. Looney, wiggins, Payton amd draymond. Klay still is a 38 percent 3 point shooter and the second leading scorer. Why not get rid of them instead?
I get what you’re saying but even when he was great Klay was pretty one-dimensional. Couldn’t really create his own shot nor had the handles, or create for others.
His game was the spot up three or the 2 dribble three and sometimes the mid-range. Plus Great on defense.
Now he’s looking to get paid as a strictly spot-up shooter. Warriors not willing to give him 20 million to be a spot up shooter.
Other teams sort of looking for a guy like that like Dallas was. I think he’ll be great there. Good for him and good for the mavericks.
Warriors after 10 years of luxury tax are going to scoot under it for a season and circle the wagons. Okay by me it’s been a good run.
But yes I see what you’re saying and it’s valid. But I think the Warriors want to try someone else in that role. Maybe for a little less money? Maybe someone younger and they can develop? Maybe this Waters guy from OKC?
GWRS relax. Your normally a very rational comment but you’ve become so defensive off every little comment about the Warriors.
I will address and refute any INCORRECT assumptions. Not looking to please you anyway you’ve never been a fan of my posts.
Yes I’m on edge right now.
Warriors fans quickly forget 4 championships and the greatness of the dynasty.
Maybe it’s because many are younger and forget the horrible ’80s and ’90s? Okay I’ll give them that.
Fans of other teams are coming out of the woodwork and from hiding and spewing nonsense right now when their own team has zero accomplishments.
I’ll settle down when they settle down.
The return the Warriors got shows how good Klay Thompson is
The SALARY that Klay was able to secure shows how good Klay Thompson is. 17 million a season is not too shabby for a 35-year-old one-dimensional spot-up shooter who’s not quite three and D anymore.
Getting a return on a UNRESTRICTED free agent at all is a miracle.
It looks like the Warriors helped Klay Thompson with a sign and trade (and so did Charlotte) so the Mavericks could send out Green and free up a little money.
And yet, there’s bitter uninformed fans on here saying the Warriors are alienating players lol.
So many misinformed people making comments on this particular article is not even funny.
He plays more defense than Curry but suddenly he’s one dimensional?
He’s one-dimensional on offense.
He can’t create for others. He has no handles. He’s not a guy who can get the ball in the wing in ISO and get a bucket.
He feeds off Curry’s multi-dimensional multifaceted offensive game.
See here you go KnicksCavs. Disagreeing with anything I may suggest. That’s okay keep it coming.
By the way your Cavs are looking good. Twin Towers plus just resigned Donovan mitchell. He was a good pickup for them and now they’ll consistently challenge for tops in the east. Good Times ahead.
Better then what the Lakers offer in Dlo a guy who can’t play defense and on a bad contract. Still can’t believe Lakers went cheap mode to get Thompson.
How did they go cheap mode when it was Sadie they couldn’t find a third team willing to take on DLos contract quickly?
The Warriors have had an absolutely terrible off season. I dont think Klay leaving is a bad thing but this team hasn’t improved AT ALL. I wish ownership could see that their only option is to sell Steph for an insane offer. All the talk in April about being aggressive and wanting to bring in an all star or better caliber wing has resulted in NOTHING.
I am curious to see if Klay will still flaunt his 4 rings in Dallas…
Warriors improved immensely. You have to take a step back to be great again.
I been saying for a while there is no player available that would make them a top 4 team. Best thing to do is see if Kuminga, Moody, Podz and TDJ are ready to take the next step. That is the only way they can get better.
Now the hard part: What to do with Dray and Curry? Curry is the face of the NBA. No one wants to see him go through major rebuilding process next 2 years, but they also value him being a one franchise player.
Horrible off-season? How so Washington?
They wanted to get below the salary threshold and paying tax. They let Chris Paul and Klay Thompson walk and took no salary in return. I think they accomplished their goal.
What’s horrible about that unless you’re just a bitter anti-warrior basketball fan? What you’re saying is completely wrong and made up. They accomplished their goal. End of story.
Lol where is this “trade Stephen Curry” nonsense is coming from. Curry will retire a Warrior.
Not sure if you people are being serious or just trolling.
And by the way Kings are never going to win a championship. Go cry about that.
Mavs keep on challenging Luka too far.. him and Irving deserve to be on a franchise like the spurs
The team just went to the Finals genius. The Spurs haven’t been in 10 years. Spurs luck into 1st round picks to build their teams. They aren’t known to attract free agents.
I think you’re forgetting where they drafted Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Didn’t take much luck to draft guys 28th and 57th or whatever it was.
I think Klay leaving was 100% the right decision but the other deals and moves have been puzzling to say the least.
You have CP3 more money to ultimately leave a couple days later.
You give Melton a big 12 mil contract or whatever it was when instead you should’ve given that to Jonas Valaiucanes to fill the gapping hole at centre.
You treated Wiggins terribly not letting him represent Canada as you’re trying to trade him.
And you also almost waived Looney who’s been an underrated loyal servant to this side for years.
You haven’t done a single thing to improve, or to get younger for the future. It’s like you waited all season for the offseason but then had no idea what to do when you didn’t get PG who was never going to come …..
It’s clear the only pieces worth keeping right now are Curry Podzi Kuminga and then TJD as a back up big. Meaning you need to be moving Dray and Wiggins and seeing what you can get for Moody also.
As for potential moves now….
Wiggins for Bruce Brown still makes sense.
Tornonto would love great bring him back home a lining up IQ Barrett Wiggins Barnes Poeltl.
As for Bruce, he’d be a really solid 6th man off the bench and opens up the starting SF spot for Kuminga. Going forward it’s also a salary dump and after the season you clear cap space to potentially bring someone in to play with Curry.
GP2 for Niang and 2 seconds
Cavs could do with some more perimeter defence and need a back up point guard aswell. They also have multiple back up forwards and because of Niangs contract give up some draft picks. As for GSW you have guards already and although you need some good defenders off the bench you need depth in the right areas more. Niang isn’t horrible and I think he’d be a really good shooter for them and suit that system they play.
Then lastly Daniel Theis and Jae Crowder in FA along with Stephs brother Seth.
Curry Podzi Kuminga Green Theis
Melton Brown Crowder Niang Looney
Seth Moody Santos TJD
Probably a play in side but not one you’d like to meet because of Curry and their experience. On the right night a couple guys get hot I could see them make the playoffs but don’t see them doing any real damage. I don’t think they match up poorly (they have shooters, defenders, depth, experience, strength and so on) but it’s more a case of energy in the tank for guys like Steph where if he has a bad night then it’s over
I can see Kerr using a LOT of Curry-Podz-Moody-Kuminga-Green lineups if Podz sticks around and Wiggins does not. Not bad, but Lauri is an elite guy who makes GSW kind of terrifying honestly if they can get him without giving up Kuminga or Moody, which they might be able to…
Simmons, the Warriors wanted to get way under the salary tax thing. They let Chris Paul 30 million and Klay Thompson around 20 million walk for nothing.
That’s accomplishing their goal. Job well done wouldn’t you say?
And the Warriors owners have a right to do so they’ve been spending luxury tax almost double the player salaries for years.
Treated Wiggins terribly? You’ve got to be totally kidding or you’ve been under a rock the last 2 years.
They’ve given him EVERYTHING he has asked for including one of the absences of several months just for mental health. But of course as with the father Health thing they said fine no problem will keep paying you take all the time you need.
To say they’ve treated Wiggins terribly is just flat out wrong and uninformed. You should know better Simmons.
So knowing Wiggins takes care of himself first the Warriors are correct in protecting themselves by suggesting he not play in the Olympics and rather be healthy for next year.
I think that’s reasonable don’t you? You have to look out for your investment now that you know the players track record? My goodness people.
I wish the Bucks would tell Giannis that as he appears to want blow out his legs for Greece this summer.
Warriors haven’t done a single thing to improve? Are you kidding? This melton guy replaces a 40-year-old backup point guard who was set to make $30 million. You get this guy for 12 million dollars and just a one-year commitment. That’s a win.
You get two other young pieces in the shooter Waters and a project big guy from Boston college.
Warriors did nothing to improve themselves? They are now out of tax hell. That’s huge.
Had no idea what to do when Paul George didn’t come? Who are you? Where are these thoughts coming from? They swung for the fences to bring in Paul George but if they couldn’t bag the elephant they wanted to get under the tax and salary cap stranglehold. I think they’ve done that have they not?
I really don’t understand the comments in this section of this article. Such false accusations and YOU have no clue as to what the Warriors are doing.
37 points in a quarter.
60 points in 3 quarters.
60 points with 11 dribbles.
3 50+ point games.
18 games of 40+ points.
4 rings.
Your GOAT has never. Weird how Klay is no ones GOAT. You would think “scoring” would be the most important thing about basketball hahaha (Im joking around here please dont take this too serious)
Forever grateful for what Klay Thompson brought to the Warriors and did in a Warriors uniform.
Goodbye Klay and thank you for all the wonderful memories. Best of luck with the Mavs
I love Klay, but thank god they are moving on. He is a shadow of what he was those to injuries made him a spot up 3-point shooter who is a liability on defense.
I have a trade idea
Warriors get Towns, and 2 Vet mins
Wolves get Lauri, Clarkson and TPE
Jazz get Kuminga, Moody, Wiggins and 2 Warriors Firsts
Kuminga is 21
Lauri is 27
Wolves save $50 million this year
Warriors starters
Big 3
Payton
Pod
Kinda low brow we are discussing trades in a farewell thread , there’s been 5 Gsw threads today to do that in; good grief have some perspective and show some respect , half of you are “ supposed “ fans as well but maybe that’s a conditional fandom based on where you sit in the NBA hierarchy
What a union Klay and GSW had, all dynasties end eventually, appreciate what this guy did for you and maybe throw a thanks for the memories …. Not too much to ask
he’s not a warrior anymore. the fans don’t know him as a friend. all he did was beat his chest and hype up being a warrior 4 life for the last 11 years, then he decides to spurn the organization over $2M. And us fans are supposed to be grateful? F, that.
You don’t know the story people’s elbow. The Warriors were NEVER bringing him back after his performance in the playoffs.
Behind closed doors they told him go out and get your own deal. That’s the truth.
They gave him the max contract after his ACL and that is plenty to thank him for his wonderful contributions.
Then they offered two for 48 but he thought he could get three or four years so he said no.
No problem, test the market, good luck to you.
Dynasty over. Trade Draymond to Detroit. Kiss Curry’s butt and offer him something nice. Retirement package. Sorry Wiggins they made you get the DTH shot. Trade everyone and rebuild. Kerr steps down
PG.?
SG.Podz
SF.Kuminga
PF.Trayce Jackson-Davis
C.? Post?
Moody the sixth man
essentially saying sorry klay its just business lol
They did the Loyalty part and the emotional part with the 5-year Max after the acl.
They did the emotional part and the loyalty part when they offered him two more years and 48 million dollars last summer.
I guess it’s business. What else would you call the NBA?