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One of the current storylines surrounding the Golden State Warriors focuses on Klay Thompson's extension talks. The sharpshooter is set to become a free agent on July 1, and there's been no news of a deal yet. Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s latest update doesn't say much as well.
“We're hopeful, but we'll see,” Dunleavy said. “We got to figure things out.”
Interestingly, the Warriors GM also touched on the sentimental side of Klay's situation, based on an X post by Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area.
“Dunleavy says it would be impossible to fully take out the emotion of Klay negotiations, but the NBA ‘is a business,'” Johnson wrote.
Klay Thompson: a name synonymous with the Warriors
It's no surprise that this is an emotional time for Dunleavy. Golden State is on the verge of losing a player who's cemented his mark on the franchise throughout the past decade.
The Warriors drafted Klay Thompson with the 11th overall pick in 2011. After a quality rookie campaign, he became a full-time starter as a sophomore, marking the beginning of the “Splash Brothers” era.
And of course, the Dubs dominated the league in the years to come. Winning four championships and engraving themselves in the NBA's history books, the Warriors changed the landscape of basketball with their small-ball, 3-point-centered style of play.
As for the shooting guard himself, Thompson has averaged 19.6 points and 3.5 rebounds through 11 seasons with Golden State (sidelined from 2019-21 due to injuries). He garnered five All-Star appearances while being named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2019.
Along with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, Thompson is part of the famed trio that spearheaded the winning culture in San Francisco. All three are practically synonymous with the franchise, which is exactly why many find it hard to fathom Thompson possibly suiting up for a new team next season.
How things have been for Klay Thompson lately
However, his performance this past season was not up to par with Warriors fans expectations. Thompson experienced a dip in averages and went through rough stretches that caused the Warriors to bench him. To top it all off, the Warriors missed the playoffs just two years after winning a title.
Still, it's not as bad as many make it out to be. Thompson still put up 17.9 points per game while leading the league in free-throw percentage (92.7 percent). Yes, there were forgettable nights. But there were games where Klay Thompson's feared shooting stoke reminded everyone why he's a Splash Brother.
A vet like him would surely draw interest left and right, and recent gossip has already linked the 34-year-old to rumored suitors such as the Orlando Magic and the Dallas Mavericks. The Warriors don't have the luxury of time in this situation, so fans can expect big news in the coming days.
