Warriors want to re-sign Klay Thompson despite rumors
As free agency inches closer, uncertainty is building about star guard Klay Thompson’s future with the Golden State Warriors.
The five-time All-Star has seen his contract talks with the Warriors stall, leading to dialogue around him potentially testing the open market.
Despite that, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has made it quite clear that the franchise wants to retain the four-time NBA champion’s services.
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“I think being reasonable and rational, that’s always how I’m going to operate but to say about a guy like Klay Thompson, who’s meant so much to this franchise, to completely strip the emotion away from it, I think that’s almost impossible,” Dunleavy said, speaking at his pre-draft news conference Monday via ESPN.
Thompson has spent his entire career with the Warriors, where he has been a core piece to the puzzle and has helped them earn four NBA titles in five Finals appearances.
The 34-year-old is reportedly eyeing a lucrative long-term deal, but it’s uncertain if the Warriors are willing to dish out that type of money to keep him aboard. That is where speculation has risen that he could test free agency.
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“I think it’s about what the right thing that works for the franchise and the player and the role he is in,” Dunleavy said. “Factoring all of those things in is what’s most important, and that’s what is taking place and what we’re looking at. … There are probably varying degrees of what that value is, but that’s on me to figure out what the right amount is for our team.”
Plenty can change from now until the start of free agency, but until then, the notion that Thompson could leave is a real scenario.
