The Golden State Warriors’ contract extension negotiations with four-time NBA champion shooter Klay Thompson are not going well, according to The Athletic on Saturday.
Thompson, 34, will become an unrestricted free agency on June 30 unless the Warriors reach an agreement with him. He has been with the organization since 2011, when he was drafted with the eleventh pick. He developed into one of the league’s most lethal shooters, a five-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA Third Team selection, and an All-Defensive Second Team selection who helped the team win four NBA titles.
However, after suffering two catastrophic injuries in 2019 and 2020, Thompson is no longer the same person he once was. As a result, he is too slow to play point of attack on the defensive end. His trademark three-point shot was also hampered. For the first time in his career, he fell short of three points. His 3-point percentage of 38.7 percent was the second-lowest of his career.
Furthermore, the Warriors have had one of the largest payrolls in the NBA for years, at the expense of a rising luxury tax and more restricted team-building options as a result of the new collective bargaining agreement. They were ousted from the Western Conference play-in tournament last season.
As a result, the Warriors have been understandably wary about extending Thompson an extension. According to ESPN, the team offered him a two-year contract, but the veteran wants at least three years, according to NBC Sports. Meanwhile, teams with significant cap room are looking for shooters like Thompson. For example, the Orlando Magic, who finished sixth in the Easter Conference last season, are one possible destination for him.
