Klay Thompson, Warriors locked in deadlock ahead of NBA free agency – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

SAN FRANCISCO — A longtime NBA agent told me years ago, during the Warriors’ dynastic run, that Golden State CEO Joe Lacob might be the most competitive owner in the league. That he wants to win ‘everything’.

Not only championships, but also contract negotiations.

This claim has proven increasingly credible over the years, shedding light on the tightening issue of the Warriors and soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Klay Thompson.

The Warriors are sincere in their desire to retain Thompson, but on terms they consider good value. Lacob has proven that he will pay, but also that he wants to secure the investment.

“We want him back,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said Monday during his pre-NBA press conference. “We’ve said that all along. Hopefully he comes back. But in terms of the details and discussions and things like that, I think it’s important to stay internal and things like that. If we have found a solution for this, we have news for you.’

Meanwhile, Golden State exudes patience at a level that only comes when you believe there’s a reasonable chance of being rewarded.

They are willing to wait and let Thompson and his representatives explore the market and see what is available. The Warriors have drawn a line in the sand and will not cross it willingly. I won’t even consider crossing it unless provoked, at which point they might recalibrate.

Power.

It is a form of chicken, the game in which, for example, two drivers go on a collision course to see which of the two moves to avoid the other. Only these are two groups with clear differences that will persist until one compromises.

Despite Thompson’s tremendous contributions to the best years the franchise has ever seen, this strategy is risky but makes sense. The Warriors don’t know Klay’s exact value on the market, and neither does Team Thompson. What is known is that the two sides do not agree.

It has also become clear that the warmth of past glory matters, but is not a determining factor for either party.

“I think I’m reasonable, I’m rational,” Dunleavy said. “That’s how I will always work. But to say that a guy like Klay Thompson, who has meant so much to this franchise, completely takes the emotion out of it, I think that’s almost impossible.

“But this is a business. We will talk about things and keep talking about things. We are hopeful, but we will see. We have to figure things out.”

From a strictly business perspective, the Warriors are looking at a five-time All-Star and one-time All-Defensive team selection who is unlikely to regain that distinction. Thompson was 29 when he received one of these awards. Five years and two devastating injuries later, he no longer possesses the gifts that earned such lofty honors.

Golden State has looked at Thompson’s past 2.5 seasons and has concluded that he is no longer a ‘max’ player but is still capable of being a key contributor to a winning team. He can still drop 40 points in a given game, but his scoring frenzy is less common. He can provide decent defense in some games, but he can no longer stop a perimeter scorer.

Thompson wants a three-year contract and a chance to win a fifth NBA championship, according to sources from multiple leagues. That’s why any potential suitor – the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Orlando Magic, the Philadelphia 76ers, to name three – would be interested.

The Warriors consider themselves contenders, but they want to see how far other teams will go to convince Thompson to leave the franchise that drafted him 13 years ago. They don’t necessarily believe a team will wave a nine-figure bag under his chin.

If Klay is determined to leave, Golden State cannot and will not stop him. If he is willing to stay on agreeable financial terms while embracing the Sixth Man role, the Warriors will open their arms with a fair offer.

“It’s the most important thing to take all these things with you,” Dunleavy said. “And that’s pretty much what has taken place, what we’re looking at. That’s as simple as it is.

“There will probably be varying degrees of what that value is, but it’s up to us and me to figure out what the right amount is for our team.”

The right amount is regardless of Golden State’s luxury tax bill. It has little to do with where Thompson would fit within the team’s salary structure.

Right amount, as defined by the Warriors, is what holds Thompson back, while Lacob and Dunleavy can also walk away feeling successful.

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