Pivotal Factor Makes Warriors Desperate To Move On From Klay Thompson But Keep Troublesome Draymond Green Safe

The upcoming days may end up being the final one in which Klay Thompson will be regarded as a Golden State Warriors player. After having been a part of the franchise for 13 years, the athlete is facing trouble getting a contract extension based on his terms. He rejected a $48 million offer that was made to him back in April and recently turned down a two-year contract ahead of the free agency process. With the Warriors not willing to meet the player’s ask for a three-year extension, both entities may have to start moving on from each other.

While this is the sad truth, it is something that a renowned NBA analyst seems to have accepted. A few hours ago, former Warriors head coach Mark Jackson hosted another segment on ESPN. With renowned journalists Malika Andrews and Bobby Marks joining in as co-hosts, the trio discussed Klay Thompson’s current predicament. Jackson held the opinion that both the player and the Warriors need to now move on from these extension talks and go into the next season with a fresh start, separately. Bobby Marks, on the other hand, called himself a “romantic” and stated that the last thing he would probably want to see is the dominating trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green being broken apart. After all, under the combined presence of these three, the franchise has seen the dawn of its best era, securing four championship titles and numerous team/individual accolades in the process. Unfortunately, while envisioning a future where the trio would break, there was always a feeling that Klay Thompson would be the first to go. All because of one crucial factor.

“We know Steph’s not going anywhere, Draymond is a pretty unique piece, he doesn’t fit everywhere, Klay Thompson fits anywhere,” said Marks. “We don’t always get what we want romantically……..  I think Klay has pathways that could be interesting and kind of cool to watch, so win-win”.

In an ideal world, Draymond Green would be the first member of the golden trio to be traded away by the franchise. After all, his role as a ‘villain player’ on the court has created a whole lot of trouble for himself and his franchise. A primary example of this can be the recently concluded season. Back in November 2023, the player was suspended for five days after putting his longtime rival Rudy Gobert into a chokehold during a scuffle. The punishment was not enough, as Green would repeat his action a month later by hitting Jusuf Nurkic in the face and getting himself suspended for an additional seventeen days. A suspension that Green received during a crucial game in March 2024 was reportedly enough to bring lead scorer Stephen Curry on the verge of tears.

Despite all the alleged trouble that he has created for the franchise, Green’s defensive capabilities only bode well for the Warriors. Stephen Curry is the face of the franchise, and will undoubtedly spend his remaining days in the NBA with them. As a shooting guard and an efficient scorer, however, Klay Thompson can be taken in by any franchise that wants to receive a significant boost in their progression.

Bay Area podcasters criticized the two-year contract offered to Klay Thompson: “Can’t Take Less Money Than Draymond”

With the news about the two-year contract offer made to Klay Thompson making waves, it didn’t take long for NBA enthusiasts and analysts to share their thoughts. Amongst the people making their voices heard were Matt Steinmetz & Daryle ‘The Guru’ Johnson, hosts of the ‘95.7 The Game’ radio show.

During a recent discussion, Matt Steinmetz highlighted his disdain for the two-year offer made to the Warriors star. After all, the last contract that he signed was a five-year extension worth almost $190 million. If that wasn’t bad enough, one should add the fact that the Warriors had offered a 4-year, $100 million contract to Draymond Green during the previous offseason.

“After everything this team’s been through for 12 years, Steph, Klay, Draymond…. 12 years, can you really not pay Klay Thompson as much as you’re paying Draymond Green?” said Steinmetz. “If I’m Klay Thompson, I can’t take less money than Draymond Green”.

With no better offer currently on the horizon, and the free agency period approaching soon, fans will have to be mentally prepared that Klay Thompson’s time with the Golden State Warriors has come to an end.

Before you go, do not forget to check out Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato open up about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud. Keep checking this space for more such updates.