Warriors, Klay Thompson extension negotiations stall over pay, years discrepancy: Sources

May 20, 2024

Contract negotiations between the Golden State Warriors and star guard Klay Thompson have stalled over the salary and length of an extension being discussed, league sources said. Here’s what you need to know:

There is a “significant gap” in the years and money, with Thompson wanting much more than what the Warriors have offered, the sources said.
Negotiations between the two sides are at a dead point, and Golden State could let Thompson hit free agency next summer.
Thompson, 32, is entering his 13th season with the Warriors after the franchise drafted him as the 11th pick in 2011.

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

What additional context matters here?

The Warriors are intent on ducking under the second tax apron next summer, which limits how much future money they are willing to commit currently. In the last couple of seasons, they’ve retained both Andrew Wiggins ($27.2 million annually) and Draymond Green ($25 million annually) on reasonable extensions. That’s somewhere in the range that Thompson would likely have to agree upon to get something done this month, but it doesn’t appear either side is afraid of extending it into unrestricted free agency next summer.

The Warriors did that with Green, he had a productive season and they rewarded him. The long-term intent of the Warriors is still to keep Thompson. — Anthony Slater, Warriors senior writer

What has Thompson said about it?

Thompson had two relevant quotes in a sitdown interview with The Athletic earlier this month.

On his future: “I know if I just do my job and I’m in shape and I compete at my highest level, I’m going to make money in this league for a long time. So I don’t worry about it. I’m blessed beyond measure. Obviously, you want to make the most in the window you have as an athlete. But I’m not going to let that get in the way of winning a championship. When you win, everything else will be taken care of.”

On his commitment to remain with the Warriors: “Absolutely. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. To play for one franchise, man? That’s so rare. In any sport. Football. Baseball. Basketball. Australian Rules Football. To play for one club is insane. It’s some real legendary stuff. Even what Udonis Haslem did. He’s revered in Miami. Locally. That’s what I cherish.

“Going around the country, going around the world and people from Northern California or Warriors fans in general are just so prideful about the Warriors. And I was here before banners were hung up. So in a way, it’s our baby. You want to ride it out. I’ve just been so lucky to be a part of this franchise. It’d be so hard to envision myself in another uniform.” — Slater

Is there an extension deadline?

No. The Warriors and Thompson could theoretically agree to an extension at any point this season. This is the time of the year when negotiations happen and you might expect to get something done. But the team can extend him all the way up until June 30, the day before free agency. — Slater

Backstory

Thompson is coming off an incredible shooting season after leading the NBA in 3-pointers with 301 in 2022-23. He averaged 27.0 points in January and 25.5 points in February, the two most productive scoring months of his career. He averaged 21.9 points and 4.1 rebounds and shot 41.2 percent of 3s.

During his 13 years with the Warriors, Thompson has earned five All-Star selections and been a member of four championship squads.

Required reading

(Photo: John Hefti / USA Today)

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