Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson: If you get to keep one, who is it?

The Golden State Warriors may be at an intriguing crossroads this summer. Their two options: keep superstar Kevin Durant or elite sharpshooter Klay Thompson.

While the Warriors aren’t short on money, they certainly don’t want to have three max contract and Draymond Green’s large tab to cover. That said, this offseason, if the options are to max Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson, what do you do?

I think the answer is simple. You max Klay Thompson. However, it certainly will be far from simple for the Warriors.

It’s also simple to understand that Kevin Durant is the better basketball player. He’s a 6-foot-10 scoring machine with unlimited range and a 7-foot-5 wingspan. There’s nothing not to like about Durant’s game, and his unparalleled ability to score makes him a unique player.

A few things would go into a decision like this. The most pivotal of those is who would sign long-term. Klay Thompson seems much more likely to stay for four-to-five years, unlike Durant who, if kept, would likely sign another one-plus-one deal.

Ideally, they would be able to keep both. Thompson knows it’d come at the cost of taking a pay cut, but he also has recognized that Durant has taken a cut to keep the core together and striving for a fourth straight title, assuming they win this season, might overtake money.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume you can only keep one though?

Thompson, an elite two-way sharpshooter, has averaged over 20 points and three three-pointers per game for the last four seasons, being elected to the All-Star game in each season. Additionally, it’s good to understand Thompson’s only NBA home has been in the Bay.

Durant, on the hand, will be starting his third season in Golden State in a few weeks. He’s been absolutely dominant, helping win two straight NBA Championships. Averaging about 26 points per game, Durant has effortlessly transitioned to a team with several star players.

Every good thing eventually comes to end, and while Durant and Thompson are both imperative to the Dubs, it seems likely one leaves.