Lifetime Warrior: Klay 'perfectly content' as free agency looms
When you're a part of an organization that won an NBA record 73 games two years ago, as well as three of the last four championships, it becomes increasingly difficult to rationalize heading elsewhere.
Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson will have the option of leaving the Bay Area next summer as an unrestricted free agent, although he doesn't sound like he's eager to test the open market.
"I think when guys go into free agency, they’re searching for a situation like mine or similar to our team," Thompson said, according to the Mercury News' Mark Medina. "So I’m perfectly content here.
"Just look around the walls and the artwork and see how I was a part of this buildup, it keeps you motivated and makes you want to be a Warrior my whole career."
The 28-year-old inked a four-year, $70-million max extension back in 2014 and is now entering the final year of that deal. The possibility remains that Thompson agrees to another extension, but if he goes that route, he'd be leaving a substantial amount of money on the table.
If the four-time All-Star were to play out the year and renegotiate with the Warriors then, he'd be eligible for a five-year, approximate $188-million deal. Should Thompson elect for a fresh start in new surroundings, the most he could make is roughly $139 million over four years.
An extension would do Golden State a great deal of service, as it would lessen the luxury-tax blow they'd incur moving forward when factoring in Stephen Curry's $201-million contract, as well as potential deals for Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. Thompson would only be making over $102 million across four years at that point, but nonetheless, all he's concerned about for the time being is trying to complete a rare three-peat with his teammates.
"I’m not sure, that’s why I have my agent (Greg Lawrence) who helps me with these things," Thompson added. "He definitely gets his money’s worth during these times, but as long as I’m here in this Warriors uniform and I’m able to compete for championships, that’s what my sole focus is on … just try to win another championship and enjoy the ride along the way, because it goes by really fast as we all know."