Report: Klay Thompson's deal with Warriors not technically a max extension
Even though Klay Thompson may be out to prove he's worth a max extension, that's apparently not what he signed with the Golden State Warriors on Friday.
It was reported at the time that Thompson and the Warriors had agreed on a four-year extension at the maximum salary allowable, one that would pay him an estimated $70 million depending on where the 2015-16 salary cap winds up. The deal is not technically a max extension, though, according to Zach Lowe of Grantland.
The difference in salary is not expected to be significant, but there are understandable reasons why the Warriors may have wanted to avoid calling it a max deal.
A max extension would pay Thompson 25 percent of a number slightly below the salary cap in the first year, with an annual raise of 7.5 percent of the first-year salary. By paying him a set amount instead, the Warriors protect themselves in the event the 2015-16 cap rises more than expected. With a current estimated cap of $66.5 million, here's how the contracts could differ with even a slight spike:
| 1st Year Salary | MAX (Cap 66.5M) | MAX (Cap 70M) | $15.5M (any cap) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 15.50 | 16.32 | 15.50 |
| 2016-17 | 16.66 | 17.48 | 16.66 |
| 2017-18 | 17.83 | 18.64 | 17.83 |
| 2018-19 | 18.99 | 19.80 | 18.99 |
| SUM | 68.98 | 72.24 | 68.98 |
The differences are small, but with the impact of the NBA's new media rights deal still being explored, the Warriors are smart to protect themselves in this regard. That's if this is actually the case, as it's just the foremost assumption following the news that it's not a max extension.
From the player's perspective, the money is the money, and unless Thompson is hung up on the idea of being a max player, there's little to take issue with for such an arrangement.