Golden State Warriors top signing, for four years $140 , Klay Thompson contracts terminated today…
The question of Klay Thompson‘s free agency will hang over the Golden State Warriors until it’s answered this summer. Will he leave the only NBA team he’s ever called home?
Thompson, a five-time All-Star, is approaching his 12th NBA campaign. But as an unrestricted free agent, only he can decide what uniform he’ll be wearing for it.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz predicts the 34-year-old will sign a two-year, $46-million deal to remain with the Warriors.
“The Warriors could sign Thompson to a multi-year contract starting at $22.2 million or less, use their taxpayer mid-level exception of $5.2 million to sign some outside help and fill out the roster with veteran minimum deals and still avoid the luxury tax line for next season,” Swartz wrote on June 5.
Thompson played 77 games for Golden State last season, averaging 17.9 points per game on 38% shooting from behind the arc. His list of suitors won’t be short, but no team has a history with Thompson like the Warriors.
“Look for Thompson’s contract to fall somewhere around this number annually in a return to Golden State,” Swartz continued. “A two-year deal would tie him in with Stephen Curry‘s contract as well.”
The end of an era in Golden State will likely look similar to the beginning. Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green are likely to run it back one last time with hopes of securing a fifth shared championship.
Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported at length about Thompson and the Warriors’ looming negotiations this summer, and while there are plenty of team’s that could offer Thompson a significant payday, Slater maintains money isn’t the priority.
“Thompson wants to win,” Slater wrote on May 30. “Don’t expect him to chase the largest possible offer from the Detroit Pistons or Charlotte Hornets, even if that’s the correct financial or leverage move.”