Could Golden State Warriors move franchise legend amid payroll issues?
The Golden State Warriors face a pivotal offseason under brand new General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., one that will be characterized by Draymond Green’s decision and the franchise’s plans with younger players like Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga.
The Warriors are expected to bring back their core players, assuming they find an agreement with Green in free agency. The franchise clearly holds faith in their chances of returning to championship contention, but what if a deal too good to refuse comes up involving one of their best ever?
Although highly unlikely, a Golden State Warriors trade involving franchise legend Klay Thompson shouldn’t be completely ruled out.
Klay Thompson’s end to the season left a sour taste in many mouths, with the five-time All-Star averaging just 10.5 points across the last four games of their second-round series defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 33-year-old had an impressive regular season where he averaged 21.9 points on 41.2% shooting from three-point range, yet the playoff disaster is likely to make it difficult for Thompson and the Warriors to agree on a contract extension this summer.
The four-time NBA champion will enter the final season of a five-year deal signed in 2019, with Thompson set to make a hefty $43.2 million in 2023-24. At that price point, it’s impossible not to consider a trade whereby Golden State get a similar-level of player while also saving a ton of money in salary and luxury tax.
Most speculation has headed towards Poole given his well-documented struggles during the postseason, but perhaps we should also be looking at Thompson if the Warriors aren’t thrilled with paying over $120 million to three guards next season.
On the latest episode of the Warriors Plus-Minus podcast with The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Tim Kawakami and Marcus Thompson, the trio suggested a Thompson trade was unlikely but also threw up the idea of him being involved in a deal for one of the Toronto Raptors’ forwards in Pascal Siakam or O.G. Anunoby.
A proposed Thompson-Siakam move was also discussed heavily on The Bill Simmons Podcast earlier this week. While many believe the Warriors need to pick between Green and Poole given their highly-publicised relationship, Simmons added Thompson to that conversation by stating, “I don’t think they can have Poole, Draymond and Klay back. I think they’ve got to pick two of those.”
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It’s expected that Thompson will play out the final year of his contract and then need to take a reasonable pay cut should he wish to remain with the Warriors longer term. However, with Slater previously reporting that the front office is open to all potential deals excluding Stephen Curry, the idea of Thompson moving on this offseason shouldn’t be thrown totally out the window.