If you ask most people around the league, the consensus is that Klay Thompson’s days as a high-level NBA player are over after two major season-ending injuries and over 10 years of experience. But if you ask Thompson himself, he apparently still considers himself among the best of the best and he wants a contract that reflects his status as such.
Now, he still believes he’s a high-level wing as a shooter and scorer that can defend bigger guys. The defense against smaller guys has fallen off a cliff just because of his lateral quickness after the injuries. But he still thinks he’s a high-money player and should be valued like that,” wrote HoopsHype’s Anthony Slater.
Klay Thompson was an internal piece of the Warriors championship runs and he’s been a beloved member of the team for what he did over his 10-year career. But it’s been over four years since Thompson’s last All-Star appearance and his efficiency has taken a massive dip in all areas on the court. As a free agent in 2024, Klay is angling to secure a massive bag from the Warriors this summer but he may find it not so easy to get the kind of money he’s after.
A Sharp Decline For Klay
As a 5x All-Star, 4x champion, and one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history, Klay Thompson’s legacy is already set for his role in one of the greatest dynasties in basketball. But after going down with a knee injury in the 2019 Finals, Klay has never been the same. After working for the entire following season to get himself back on the court, Klay tore his Achilles before he even had a chance to play a single game. Klay finally returned again for the 2021-22 season and he actually played pretty well en route to his fourth championship win.
This season, however, Thompson has looked like a total shell of himself. With averages of 17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on just 42.3% shooting, Thompson is putting up some of his worst stats since his rookie season. To make matters even worse for Klay, he’s also lost a step defensively and it’s been felt this season as the Warriors rank just 24th out of all 30 teams.
A Breakup In Golden State?
With Klay struggling and the Warriors reeling, real consideration has been given to the idea of a potential breakup in Golden State. At 19-23 on the season, the Warriors are struggling to stay alive in the West playoff race and they could be out of it completely if they don’t make some changes soon. Besides Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, Klay Thompson has become a primary trade target, and he could be the one to go if the right deal becomes available.
Even if the Warriors don’t make a trade, they will have a lot to answer for this summer when it’s time to play Thompson near max money for the final stretch of his career. Only time will tell how much the Warriors are willing to pay the guy, but everyone knows that his best days are behind him now, and the Warriors may be better off trying their luck with someone else.
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