Warriors' Klay Thompson breaks silence on contract talks

In the final year of a five-year, $189.9 million deal, Thompson is reportedly at a standstill with the Warriors over contract negotiations. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski recently reported on "NBA Countdown" that both Thompson and the organization are "still apart on years and money," leaving the door open for the five-time All-Star to hit free agency next summer.  

On Tuesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic doubled down on that notion, adding that negotiations between both parties are "at a dead point."

Age and injury history are not on Thompson's side when it comes to contract talks. Turning 34 in February, Thompson previously missed back-to-back seasons due to ACL and Achilles injuries. Still, he remains one of the league's premier marksmen. 

In 2022-23, Thompson connected on more threes than any other player in the NBA (301) while shooting 41.2% from beyond the arc. His showing in this season's opener left much to be desired (shooting just 3-of-11 from beyond the arc), but that shouldn't be too much of a concern for a career 41.6% 3-point shooter. 

Golden State finds themselves at a bit of a crossroads. They still want to maximize their championship window with Stephen Curry in the fold. At the same time, younger talent such as Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are pushing for more prominent roles. 

Ultimately, keeping the Splash Brothers together remains in Golden State's best interest if their No. 1 goal remains hoisting another Larry O'Brien trophy. However, if the Warriors opt for a youth movement, a player of Thompson's stature will have no shortage of suitors on the free agency market.