Disastrous Development in Klay Thompson, Warriors Talks

With just about a week to go until free agency, it appears that this will be the end of the road for Klay Thompson with the Golden State Warriors. According to a report by Anthony Slater in The Athletic, contract talks between the sides are "frozen."

Despite a wide open negotiation window, there isn’t a one-year, two-year or three-year deal on the table. Because nothing is currently on the table, according to league sources. There’s been no productive discussion between the Warriors and Thompson or his representatives.
Talks are essentially frozen.

It would appear that we are at the end of an era, as the four-time champion Warriors could be about to lose one of their key three veterans.

The fact that @anthonyVslater is reporting that the talks between Klay Thompson and the team are frozen is making me feel that the break up of the core 3 is coming.....😢😢😢 #DubNation pic.twitter.com/2tfwGGEXWR
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya) June 22, 2024

"Thompson’s exit from the only franchise he has ever known feels closer and more probable than ever before," writes Slater.

The Warriors have continually said they want to bring Steph Curry's longtime Splash Brother back "at the right price, in the right role." It doesn't take a genius to read between the lines on what that means: a shorter-term contract at a team-friendly rate, in a non-starter's role. Thompson began to get a taste of coming off the bench for a time last season, and didn't much like it, we assume.

The team's troubles with the luxury tax are what's coming into play here as well. They want to avoid the second tax apron and maybe even get out of the tax altogether.

On the bright side for Golden State, there is also currently "no traction" on a free agent offer from the Orlando Magic, thought to be the biggest pursuer of Thompson in free agency.

His best offers on the open market may just turn out to be "smaller in money and shorter in years" than he had hoped, says Slater, which some feel could lead Thompson back to "an inevitable reunion with the Warriors at a rate both sides are comfortable (with)".

But Thompson certainly doesn't seem happy with the organization, and it's also quite possible he decides to head elsewhere regardless.