After a wildly profitable 13-year run that includes 4 championships and an unstoppable dynasty, it’s exhausting to think about Klay Thompson taking part in for any group apart from the Golden State Warriors.
And but right here we’re, with Thompson signing a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.
But how did we go from Thompson and the Warriors being a match made in heaven to a divorce that when appeared unthinkable?
Let’s break down how this entire factor fell aside.
Of course, the central problem right here is cash. In easy phrases, Thompson is nowhere close to the participant he as soon as was, so the Warriors had been reluctant to supply him an enormous contract.
This actually rubbed Thompson the flawed manner, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.
“I know firsthand that Klay [Thompson] is disappointed in where negotiations have gotten to this point, to the fact that he’s looking elsewhere,” Haynes mentioned on NBA TV forward of Thompson signing with Dallas.
“… I believe the Warriors are probably offering him annually a low $20 million-type of contract. Is he willing to walk away from that because he feels disrespected? It looks like he is.”
We might by no means know whether or not Thompson was in denial over his declining skills or just believed he deserved a higher payday based mostly on previous accomplishments. Either manner, the finish consequence was the similar: a pissed-off Klay Thompson who was ready to pack his baggage, which is strictly what he did.
In addition to the monetary aspect, the Warriors had been planning to convey Thompson off the bench if he returned subsequent season, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.
At this level, it’s clear that Thompson would have considered this as an extra slap in the face.
But there was one other issue at play right here too. According to San Francisco-based reporter Jason Dumas of KRON4 News, Thompson could possibly be simply as draining behind the scenes as Draymond Green,
“The last three years I know Draymond has punched people and got himself suspended on the court… but Klay has been equally exhausting behind the scenes. It’s not as loud,” Jason Dumas said on 95.7 The Game.
“… It’s not as loud because it’s not you stomping on someone’s chest. If he’s slamming stuff on the bench and sulking, and doing that on the court, how do you think it is in practice? How do you think it is in the locker room? It has been uncomfortable — it has. It just doesn’t come out as loudly as Draymond Green.”
In the finish, Thompson landed in a beneficial place with the Mavericks, a group contemporary off a visit to the Finals. The Warriors, on the different hand, are in a harder place.
The solely property they obtained in trade for Thompson had been two second-round picks, and they gave up Chris Paul for nothing too. Golden State reportedly pursued Paul George however missed out when the Clippers declined their varied commerce gives, and they’ve since turned their consideration to chasing Lauri Markkanen, in line with a number of studies.
If the Warriors come up quick of their Markkanen negotiations too, subsequent season could possibly be a really lengthy one certainly.
READ MORE: Tension Rising Between Klay Thompson and Warriors Owner
