Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson’s future with the team is murky with fellow stars Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green signed to long-term deals. According to Evan Macy of Metro.us, the Warriors cannot afford to give Thompson a maximum deal when his contract expires after this season due to salary cap limitations. Thompson is in the third year of a four-year, $69 million deal with the Warriors. This season, Thompson will earn $17.8 million and $18.9 million in 2018. The Warriors signed Curry to a five-year supermax deal worth $201 million while Durant inked a two-year, $51-million deal in the offseason with a $26.2 million player option in the second year.
Green, for his part, is in the third year of a five-year, $82-million deal that he signed in 2015.
It will get complicated for the Warriors if Durant opts out of the deal and asks for a long-term contract and if Thompson makes it to the all-NBA team this season. Last season, Thompson made it to the Third Team and if he repeats this season, he will be eligible for a designated player extension in 2018. According to Ananth Pandian of CBS Sports, that extension is only available for veteran players who stay with the team that drafted them or were traded on their rookie deal. If that happens, the Warriors will have to decide on whom to keep or who among their superstars will they sacrifice. The Warriors could also trade Thompson next season so they can get something for him in return.
Thompson not thinking of extension
Earlier this year, Sam Amick of USA Today asked Thompson about his contract situation with the Warriors, saying he will be rewarded if he just plays and works hard. Thompson added that his father, former NBA player Mychal Thompson, taught him to play the game for the love of it and not for money.
“I'm just thankful I'm here. I know if I just keep doing what I do, I'll be rewarded hopefully for a long time,” said Thompson, who is averaging 21.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 13 games this season for the Warriors.
76ers a possibility for Thompson
Last season, Thompson spoke highly about the Philadelphia 76ers and their possibility of becoming a good team with a healthy Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons leading the way.
“It’s a bright future in Philly,” Thompson said then. Macy said there’s a possibility that Thompson could trust the process and join the 76ers after his contract expires in 2018. The 76ers will need a shooter like Thompson when J.J. Redick’s one-year, $23-million deal expires after this season. The 76ers also have the salary cap room that could accommodate Thompson’s maximum salary.
