Klay Thompson's future in Golden State may be up in the air. However, that's not stopping the four-time NBA champion from remaining committed to the day-to-day grind for the 2023-24 season.
“I’m more focused on the daily dedication it takes to do this job. I’m not really worried about an extension right now. Trust will all play itself out.”
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) October 27, 2023
Klay Thompson on contract extension talks added he doesn’t like thinking about it during season pic.twitter.com/y5h7ILbxJl
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.
Reporting for NBA Countdown on the Klay Thompson extension talks, including ESPN analyst Bob Myers' window into the negotiating stakes for the Golden State Warriors and the franchise's storied guard pic.twitter.com/YpZaIppooU
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 16, 2023
On Tuesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic doubled down on that notion, adding that negotiations between both parties are "at a dead point."
Reporting on @RunItBackFDTV: There's a significant gap in extension negotiations for Golden State and Klay Thompson, league sources say, as current signs point to the four-time champion going into 2024 free agency. pic.twitter.com/0U0wSXo0hR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2023
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.
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