Where contract extension talks between Klay Thompson and Warriors supposedly stand – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

The Warriors have made it clear that signing Klay Thompson to a contract extension is one of the team’s top priorities.

But where are those conversations with the veteran point guard under contract for one more season? ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne recently provided some insights during a conversation on “The Lowe Post” podcast.

“I understand they’ve started talks to extend the contract with Klay Thompson,” Shelburne told host Zach Lowe. “This is a slow process. This idea that you’ve been eligible for a while and they haven’t done anything… no, they’ve started talking. They’ve exchanged proposals. There’s no rush in these discussions. The optionality goes both ways.” ways.

“He’s not necessarily trying to leave, but just the option that he didn’t have a great year last year. It’s up to him to have a great year this year and he becomes more valuable if he does.”

Thompson is entering the final season of his five-year, $190 million contract and is off to a slow start at the start of the 2022-23 NBA season. But he found his chance as the regular-season campaign progressed, showing that he is years away from retirement despite a lackluster playoff performance.

The Warriors will certainly be looking for a discount this time after giving Thompson a max contract as he rehabbed back-to-back lower leg injuries in 2019. And while there’s still plenty of time for a new deal to be reached, and for Thompson to increase his value through his performance: Both Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and owner Joe Lacob expect the longtime Warrior to remain with Golden State.

“Yes,” Lacob told The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” when asked if he expects Thompson to return to the Warriors after the 2023-24 season. “Look, we’ve had some very brief conversations right now with his agent, but they’re very, very early. “I think we’re all still adjusting to figuring out what our financial situation is, our cap space situation.

“On the players’ side, logically they will have to attest to what the free agent market could be because they have earned the right to be free agents if they have fulfilled their contracts. And they have to look and see what options they might have. So I think there’s a little bit of that going on right now, but I fully expect that we’ll have some substantive discussions soon. And we’ll see if we can put something together that allows Klay to “be here for a long time, which is something we clearly would like him to be.” .

Golden State signed Draymond Green to a four-year, $100 million contract this summer after the forward explored free agency. And Shelburne believes the Warriors’ faith in Green and their longtime core could signal what’s to come for Thompson.

“They’re definitely open to the idea of ​​doing (an extension) because they’ve started conversations with Klay Thompson,” Shelburne said. “I think the years will probably be similar to what Draymond Green signed, which was a four-year deal. I think it’ll probably be similar. I don’t know where they’ll land on the team option, the player option. The money is going to be the question. And how does that fit with the new collective agreement, the restriction that that implies. “I know the Warriors are very adamant about keeping Klay Thompson and Draymond Green alongside Steph Curry.”

While the goal appears to be to keep Golden State’s championship group intact, it remains to be seen how Thompson’s future will play out in the Bay Area.

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