Warriors' Klay Thompson blasts retirement speculation

Klay Thompson, for one, doesn't plan on going anywhere.

On Thursday, Thompson ended a routine post-practice media availability by slamming a report that he could retire following the 2023-24 season.

“I have no intention of retiring in 2024,” said Thompson.

“If you write some dumb s -- t like that, just be held accountable. Because like that's crazy. Just because I didn't play five-on-five doesn't mean I'm going to retire. That is absurd. That’s all I got to say.”

Thompson was referring to an article on KNBR.com that quotes San Francisco Chronicle columnist Connor LeTourneau, who shared his opinion on the radio station's midday show about Thompson’s future.

“The reality is that Klay does have two more years on his deal,” said LeTourneau. “I personally would not be shocked if Klay just retired from basketball at the end of that contract. I don’t think it’s going to be between this season and next season. If he does retire in the near future, it would be after his contract ends.”

Just two days prior, Thompson told NBA.com’s Mark Medina that he fully expects to earn another NBA contract while admitting that extension talks weren’t yet underway. Thompson’s current $189 million max deal with Golden State expires in the summer of 2024 when he would become an unrestricted free agent.

However, Thompson has said that he wants to stay a Warrior for life, and the front office has vowed to do everything it can to keep the championship core intact. Now that Thompson has asserted that retirement plans aren't in his immediate future, it seems probable that he'll reach a deal with the Warriors by July 2024.

Keeping Klay in the Bay: What does it mean?

A Thompson extension would mean Warriors fans would get to enjoy the marvel that is the Splash Brothers for another several seasons. Stephen Curry's contract keeps him in the Bay through the summer of 2026, and should he want to extend, he'll likely remain in the blue and gold until retirement.

Even as the duo ages, their three-point shooting would help ensure the Warriors maintain one of the more dynamic offenses in the league.

Extending Thompson also means Golden State must get creative to curb their swelling luxury tax bill. With the recent signings of Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors are expected to owe more than $260 million in luxury taxes during the 2023-24 season, according to Spoctrac.

Beyond 2024, one of the Warrior stars would likely have to take a pay cut, unless an exemption for a team’s own draft picks is added to the NBA’s next Collective Bargaining Agreement, which should be ratified in 2023 or 2024.

Draymond Green is the final, and most uncertain, piece of the Warriors' star trio whose fate has yet to be determined. The six-time NBA All-Star has a $27.5 million player option for the 2023-24 season, but his long-term future has been called into question after he punched Poole at a preseason practice.

If Green can keep his emotions in check and contribute on the floor to another successful season,  there's still a chance he will sign another deal with Golden State. That means Curry-Green-Thompson could be sharing the floor for several years to come.