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Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors don’t need to split up, at least not from a practical, team-building perspective. Golden State will have nearly $34 million in room beneath the first apron and $28 million in room beneath the luxury tax line if they elect to waive Chris Paul. That’s enough money to bring Thompson back at a reasonable price, fill out the roster and run this thing back without going into the tax. This approach would leave the Warriors without a hard cap, and therefore enough flexibility to make a significant trade down the line if they so choose using Andrew Wiggins as the primary matching salary. Arguably the second-most important player in franchise history doesn’t have to go anywhere.
But, clearly, this isn’t just about money anymore. It’s about everything that comes with it. The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater detailed everything that got Thompson and the Warriors to this point, and cited Golden State’s frequent attempts to replace Thompson via draft picks (Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski) and even a healthy extension (Jordan Poole) as a source of friction. Though not reported on in depth by The Athletic, it’s worth noting that Draymond Green got a four-year deal last offseason in a similar situation. Thompson, for more than a decade, has been a consummate professional. Green, obviously, has not. His 2016 suspension during the Finals may have cost the Warriors a championship and the “greatest team of all time” title. Green has been suspended several more times since. He fought with Kevin Durant during a game. He is, at this stage of their careers, a better player than Thompson. But it has to sting a little bit that Green, through all of the controversy, gets taken care of while he does not.
The relationship between Thompson and the Warriors appears to be fractured beyond repair. Three teams are reportedly at the front of the line to pursue Thompson if that split indeed comes: the Lakers, Clippers and Mavericks. For now, the starting point in negotiations appears to be the non-taxpayer mid-level…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/klay-thompson-free-agency-how-lakers-mavericks-clippers-measure-up-with-warriors-star-set-to-leave/
Author : Sam Quinn
Publish date : 2024-06-30 17:52:24
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