Patrick Beverley rips into Warriors over Klay Thompson's contract situation
Patrick Beverley believes the Golden State Warriors should sign Klay Thompson to an extension.
The four-time NBA champion is in the final year of his current deal. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current season.
Speaking on a recent episode of "The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone," Beverley noted how Thompson has been too important to the Warriors for them to let him leave in the summer.
"Why doesn't he have an extension? It's not for what you're doing now," Beverley said. "It's for what you did up and coming to this point. The man brought championships to that organization. Like was on their way to get another one if he doesn't f*** up his knee. They just won a championship two years ago...It wasn't a Splash Brother. It was Splash Brothers. I understand the business part of it but sprinkle just a little bit of the human part of it...Give that man his money."
Thompson has been a core part of the Warriors success over the past decade. He has helped lead them to four championships. He is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.
Golden State will be unlikely to let him leave in the offseason. Instead, they will use his performances from this season as a barometer of where to begin negotiations in the summer. The front office followed a similar tactic with Draymond Green before inking him to a four-year $100M deal.
After a slow start to the season, Thompson has begun performing at a high level over the Warriors past four games. He's starting to knock down his shots. To attack close-outs off the dribble. And to defend multiple positions at a high level. If he can sustain this level of impact, the Warriors will have no choice but to pay Thompson in the summer.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. has planned to let players dictate their market value by their on-court performances. From a business standpoint, that plan makes sense. However, you do run the risk of alienating the player whose contract is winding down.
Nevertheless, Thompson has been with the Warriors for his entire career; it's unlikely he would look to leave if the opportunity to remain with the franchise presents itself. And it will present itself. Thompson is too good to lose for nothing, no matter how old he's getting.
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