NBA’s “Worst Kept Secret” Could Sabotage Steve Kerr’s Desire to Keep Warriors Dynasty Alive

The Golden State Warriors are at crossroads. They have been the premier team of the NBA for the last decade, winning 4 NBA titles in the last nine seasons. At the center of this success, have been, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green acting as pillars. However, aside from Steph, both Draymond and Klay have stood to endure a tough 2023-24 season. An instance, resulting in the Warriors’ struggle.

Having secured 45 wins across 81 matches, the Golden State Warriors currently occupy the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings. In the culmination of such subpar displays, changes only seem imminent for the Dubs. A highlight in the talking points, herein, is the contract extension of Klay Thompson, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

Few know what would be Klay’s next move. However, Warriors HC Steve Kerr has made it clear that he wants to keep hold of Thompson and keep the Warriors dynasty alive. During a conversation with Willard and Dibs, he said, “We want to keep [Steph, Klay, and Draymond] together.” However, keeping hold of Klay won’t be as straightforward as previously thought. According to the Athletics’ Tim Kawakami, “One of the worst-kept secrets in the league is that Orlando, loaded with young talent but not with shooters, might offer Klay a ton of money next summer.”

The interest from the Orlando Magic isn’t the only problem. Warriors owner Joe Lacob has previously expressed his view to exit the luxury tax bracket entirely this summer. While feasible, achieving this goal might necessitate offering Klay a substantially reduced contract extension. With ample cap space, the Magic have the means to offer Klay significantly better terms. But will he take it?

What does the future have in store for the Golden State Warriors?

Despite the doom and gloom surrounding them, the Golden State Warriors maintain a glimmer of hope for a 2024 NBA title contention. Currently seeded 10th, the Dubs would need to maintain a triumphant pace in the play-in tournament to fetch themselves a spot in the playoffs. A path, that could very well be the last time that Steph, Klay, and Draymond play together.

Currently, Klay Thompson is one of the highest earners in the NBA, netting approximately $43 million dollars this season. However, he would have to take a significant pay cut if he wants to remain a Warrior for life. Moreover, despite signing a four-year contract extension worth a $100 million last summer, the future of Draymond Green also remains uncertain. There have been murmurs that the Dubs might look to trade Green in order to expedite their transition into a new era, with promising young talents such as Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, and Moses Moody taking the helm.

And for Klay Thompson it all boils down to ‘having fun’ and finding the right backing to his skills declining by the age. If he fails to find it in the Warriors, the 2024 playoffs could be the “last dance” of the current iteration of Warriors dynasty. However, if the Dubs show promise this postseason, shouts of keeping the dynasty alive will only grow louder. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!