Although shooting guard Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors is scheduled to become a free agency this summer, there appears to be a way for him to be a part of the team’s core.
After head coach Steve Kerr agreed to a two-year contract extension this week that corresponds with the two years that star point guard Stephen Curry has left on his contract, a source told ESPN’s Kendra Andrews that “getting Thompson a deal that would also align him with those two would be a viable option.”
Thompson is on the last year of his current contract and is making $43.2 million this season. According to Andrews, he and the Warriors started talks about a new deal last summer, but they were unable to come to an understanding. According to a source, “those talks never got to the point where different dollar amounts were being thrown around; instead, a range was presented to Thompson.”
The 34-year-old is qualified for a contract extension worth up to $223 million for four years, but the amount is deemed “unrealistic.” “Money and his lineup status are not driving forces for Thompson, and he remains open to a shorter-term deal,” an additional source told Andrews.
Thompson’s age and history of injuries seem to have caught up with him, as he has had a difficult season. He is shooting career lows of 42.1 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point range, and his average of 17.2 points per game is the lowest it has been since his second year in the NBA.
Thompson was recently sent to the bench by Kerr in an attempt to help him establish his rhythm. For the first time since his rookie campaign, he found it difficult to accept a backup role, but he had a major impact by scoring 35 points in a victory over the Utah Jazz off the bench.
At this point in his Hall of Fame-caliber career, Thompson knows nothing is guaranteed, but he is determined to stay optimistic no matter what happens.
After the Dubs defeated the 76ers earlier this month, Thompson declared, “I’m going to be myself whether I’m wearing a Dubs uniform or another uniform.” “I’m going to be KT.”
