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Report: Warriors' Thompson still seeking max deal; may pursue 3-year deal with player option

Jennifer Stewart / Reuters

If shooting guard Klay Thompson can't get the Golden State Warriors to cave and give him a maximum contract, the lesser Splash Brother may seek a three-year deal with an opt-out, according to a report from Marc Stein of ESPN.

The contract structure sought by Thompson would be similar to the one signed by Dallas Mavericks wing Chandler Parsons - a deal that spans three seasons, averaging $15 million with a player option after the third season.

The goal of structuring a deal in such a way is that it would allow Thompson to enter free agency at the same time as Stephen Curry in 2017. With the salary cap expected to increase significantly in response to the NBA's new broadcast deal, Thompson could conceivably see a sizable increase in his salary.

Thompson and Curry form one of the best backcourts in the league, buoyed by their prolific 3-point shooting. Thompson has averaged 8.1 triples per game across three seasons with the Warriors, sinking them at a 41 percent clip.

Thompson is also a capable post player, and a strong defender. He averaged 18.4 points last season, and given that the Warriors wouldn't surrender Thompson in a potential deal involving Kevin Love this offseason, it's likely that Warriors management will eventually cave and meet his demands.

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