There is growing fear that the beloved “big three” of the Golden State Warriors are set to be broken up within the next few years. And while as know they cannot stay together forever, new team intel from Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus suggests that they have plans to keep their core together until at least 2027.
“Some in the league think Golden State will ultimately relent and keep the core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Thompson together through 2026-27.”
The Warriors would obviously prefer to build around their big four but the situation with 34 -year-old Klay Thompson, a 4x champion, is especially delicate and they may have no choice but to let him go if they want to save some money on the payroll.
“The Warriors may pursue freedom from luxury taxes, which may mean letting Thompson go,” wrote Pincus.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green make up the championship core of the Warriors and they continue to run the team today. As friends and teammates from the start, the trio have developed an unbreakable bond that has endured the highs and lows of the NBA. In modern times, it’s rare for a group this accomplished to stay together for so long, especially given how messy things have gotten for them over the past few years.
But after making history together as champions and pioneers of modern-day basketball, the Warriors feel like they owe it to these guys to keep them together as long as possible and surround them with the necessary pieces to win.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, what is best for winning right now may involve making some tough choices this summer and trading Klay to a team like the Magic for some depth and defensive versatility. I believe the Warriors would be much better off pursuing this path for their future but we all know that they would rather stand PAT than break up Steph, Klay, and Draymond before they have to.
Multiple Teams In Pursuit Of Klay Thompson
With Draymond and Steph locked into their contracts for several more years, Klay Thompson is the only one who’s a major threat to leave this summer. After averaging a modest 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game this season, it’s clear that he’s not the same guy he used to be but he can still be effective in the right situation.
If he falls out of the Warriors’ budget, there will be plenty of suitors waiting to offer the former Washington State sharpshooter a lot of money, including the Orlando Magic.
“The Magic need shooting, and Thompson is certainly a name that would bring some buzz to Central Florida,” Pincus wrote. “Orlando would need to pay enough to scare off the Warriors, probably something in the $20-25 million starting range (or even higher).”
For his experience, versatility, and shooting potential, I think he’d make a good match with Cameroon superstar Joel Embiid and the 76ers. And for what it’s worth Daryl Morey seems to agree since his team has popped up in the rumors on multiple occasions.
“The 76ers could also be a dark horse, though the team may prefer Paul George, a better defender, as Thompson’s biggest slide since his leg injuries have been on that side of the ball.”
The Warriors have some big decisions to make this summer and Klay will be at the center of it all as contract negotiations play out behind the scenes. I would guess that both sides want to stay together but it’s got to be under the right conditions for everyone.
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