Reports: Klay Thompson & Warriors Contract Extension Shows No Progress?

After undergoing ACL and Achilles surgeries, Klay Thompson had a remarkable comeback season in 2017–18, leading the NBA in total 3-pointers made while shooting 41% from outside the arc. The 33-year-old guard’s contract with the Golden State Warriors is about to expire, so he and his agent have been in negotiations with the team about an extension — so far without success.

Reports: Klay Thompson & Warriors Contract Extension Shows No Progress?

Thompson will be in the final year of his five-year, $189 million agreement when the 2023–24 season begins. He signed it in 2019. In the 2024 offseason, the guard, a five-time All-Star, will be an unrestricted free agency.

Thompson just finished a good season in which he averaged 21.9 points on 43.6% field goal and 41.2% three-point shooting, along with 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. In 69 games last season, the 33-year-old guard topped the NBA with 301 made three-pointers.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, no deal is forthcoming for Thompson and the Warriors since the two parties are still far apart. In the summer of 2024, Thompson would be a free agent if no agreement could be made. Wojnarowski says:

“I’m told that there has been absolutely no progress on a Klay Thompson extension in Golden State, that they are both still apart on years and money, and there’s a very real possibility that Klay Thompson goes into free agency next summer without a deal.”

While the Warriors are attempting to manage their budget in the aftermath of the new restricted NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, Thompson is pursuing a max contract.

“And becomes a little bit something of a high-wire act, especially if Klay Thompson duplicates this year the kind of season he had last year — 41% three-point shooting, led the league with 301 3s, and, you know, his best points per game — at almost 22 points a game — in several years. You know, in the marketplace, teams value shooting. They value high-level wing defence. And so I think for Golden State, this has a chance to become like the first real test of keeping together that core of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.”

The fact that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr previously referred to Thompson as a “no-maintenance” player and that he can play many positions in seemingly countless lineup combinations due to his stature and skill set on both sides of the floor adds to his resume. Thompson’s goal for this season is to develop into a “complete, cerebral player,” which will only increase his marketability if he decides to enter the free-agent market.

 

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