Warriors News: Klay Thompson’s Time Is Likely Over, as Joe Lacob Gets Ready to Fulfil Paul George’s $221M Demand

With the free agency less than a week away, Thompson and the Warriors are at the final stages of negotiation. As per recent reports, the Dubs did not offer Klay a contract or propose any other deals. It seems as if the talks between Thompson and the Warriors front office are frozen for the meanwhile. At this stage, things are not looking good for the Sea Captain. The Dubs have made a lot of attempts to look elsewhere, as they have eyes on one of the hot names in the free agency market, Paul George. PG13 is in the last year of his contract wherein he can decide to opt out with a guaranteed $48.7 million.

For years, Steph and Klay have been the most dominant backcourt in the league. However, in the past few years, Klay’s performance has significantly dropped. His numbers aren’t the same nor is his traditional game. While it is still not confirmed, Thompson’s time as a Warrior will probably come to an end in the coming weeks. To put things into perspective, the Warriors have gone to great lengths as they are willing to offer PG13 a max contract. As per Brian Windhorst, the Dubs are ready to offer George a contract to his liking and as the Clippers know it, PG wants a four-year max worth around $221 million.

Is Paul George worth that amount? Quite frankly, he is. Despite the Clippers’ struggles in the past few years, George has done his part. He led the team to the Conference Finals in 2021 but came up short against the Suns. Whereas in other postseason appearances, George’s contribution has shown his value. The Warriors on the other hand would love to have a star player alongside Curry. While they can try to recreate the type of duo they did seven years ago, this time, it would be without a splash brother.

Thompson’s contributions throughout the years have been immaculate. He once dropped 60 points after sleeping through a practice session. The shooting guard also dropped 37 points in a quarter. Not only that but his ‘Game 6 Klay’ title is considered one of the best playoff mode performances. But at this point, the upcoming decisions will only be business-related. Thompson knows his value, and the shooting guard will have teams who will welcome him. But the zeroes on the contract may not be like in the past.

What does free agency look like for Klay?

Multiple teams have shown interest in signing the longtime Warrior. These include the Magic, OKC, Philly, Detroit, and the Jazz. Thompson should be expecting a diminished role if he looks to explore his options. Whereas for the contract, Klay would be open to a starting salary of $20+ million a year. To his credit, he had a couple of rough seasons, but he’s still a threat from the outside. He is also a great on-ball defender and a hustler at the boards.

Teams interested should not consider his recent performance for his future endeavors. Klay will look to bounce back and prove his consistency from beyond the arc as he progresses further. It will be interesting to see him explore his options and make decisions accordingly. Considering his skill set, Klay would be a great addition to a contender in the East.

What are your thoughts on Thompson? Where do you want to see him play next season? Let us know in the comments.

 But before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe.