Report: Warriors agree to 4-year max extension with Klay Thompson

The Splash Brothers are staying together for a long time.

The Golden State Warriors have signed Klay Thompson to a four-year extension on his rookie contract, according to Marc Stein of ESPN. The contract will pay Thompson the maximum allowable on such an extension. While the exact numbers won't be known until the 2015-16 salary cap is released, the deal should pay him close to $70 million over four years.

This is a major win for Thompson's camp, as the Warriors were said to be offering $2-3 million below the maximum just a few weeks ago. Thompson had built some leverage through a strong performance with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup this summer, and the Warriors handed him a little more by refusing to include him in any deal for Kevin Love this summer.

There was strong speculation Thompson would receive a max offer if he hit restricted free agency, as several teams, including the Sacramento Kings, were making a strong push to acquire him.

Thompson probably isn't a maximum-contract player, but the realities of this deal are important to keep in mind. The max here isn't a max in the way LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony get paid, and with the salary cap set to rise appreciably in the coming years, it will look less egregious on the books.

He's also still a very valuable player, and a slight overpay now removes any potential distraction hovering over a title contender this season. A terrific shooter and strong perimeter defender, Thompson is a great fit alongside point guard Steph Curry, and stands to be a major piece of the team's core for a long time now.

Creating that certainty and stability may be worth a slight overpay in terms of on-court production, and at age 24 it's still possible - even likely - that Thompson improves.