The Warriors have been busy in the offseason this summer as they try to put the pieces together and get back into NBA championship contention.
Jordan Poole is out. Chris Paul is there. Draymond Green is here to stay. What’s next?
It’s still premature, but Klay Thompson’s future in the Bay remains uncertain as he enters the final year of his five-year, $190 million contract with the Warriors. There is still a lot to be resolved, but the owner of the Warriors, Joe Lacob, gave an explanation of where the team will stand heading into the new season.
“I do,” Lacob told The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami “The TK Show” when asked if he expects Thompson to return to the Warriors after the 2023-24 season. “Look, we’ve had some brief discussions at this point with his agent, but they’re very early.
“They go, from the players’ side, it’s reasonable to have to prove what the free agent market is because they’ve earned the right to be free agents when they play out their contracts. And they have to tan -look and see what options they can come up with. So I think there’s a little bit going on at this point, but I fully expect that we’ll have more discussions soon. It’s going to be here for a long time. , which obviously we want to have him.”
While re-signing Green to a four-year, $100 million contract this summer would suggest Golden State still has confidence in its championship core, questions hover over the futures of Thompson and Warriors coach Steve Kerr. .
Last month, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. evaluated. his plans for Thompson and Kerr, two parts that are important to the success of the Warriors in the past and possibly in the future.
“Those guys we really want to lock up,” Dunleavy said on “Dubs Talk.” “They’re a big part of what we’ve done here. They’re still going to contribute, especially Klay on the court. And Steve is one of the best, if not the best, coaches in the league.
While the Warriors have time to sort things out, reaching an agreement before training camp begins on Oct. 2 could avoid a lot of conflict throughout the season — something they’ve battled tirelessly in the past. year.
But as Lacob attests, Thompson can test the free agency waters before making a decision, as Green did a few months ago, but the clear goal is keeping Thompson in the Bay with the same guys he’s been in the league with.
Download and listen to Dubs Talk Podcast