Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors seem to be in a contract standoff right now, with the Warriors legend reportedly failing to come to terms on a contract extension with the franchise. Despite both sides wanting a deal, it seems the financial details could be causing the relationship to stutter. Thompson likely will test free agency next season.
The Warriors cannot afford to replace Klay if he walks for nothing, given the salary cap hell the team is in. Even with the expiring deals of Chris Paul and Thompson, the Warriors won’t have the space to even add one max-level player to replace both. CP3 is a gamble they can take, but Thompson is integral. Maybe if the season starts off as a disaster and the contract situation hurts the locker room, the Clippers may come in with a solution.
Trade Details
Golden State Warriors Receive: Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris Sr.
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Klay Thompson
The Clippers add a star on the same timeline as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, with both players also possibly testing the market at the end of the year. This gives the Warriors an assortment of pieces to add to their depth and go all-in on Stephen Curry-ball.
The Golden State Warriors Try To Make The Most Of A Rough Situation
To be clear, we’re suggesting the Warriors do this trade if it’s clear they don’t think they want to extend Thompson on the same value the star wants to get for himself in free agency. Instead of having the end of an era looming over their head, the Warriors can continue going in their winning direction by adding three players who can give them rotational minutes.
Ivica Zubac would form a formidable big-man pairing with Kevon Looney. The Warriors have always been thin in that slot beyond Looney, forcing an aging Draymond to play that role. Zubac averaged 10.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks last season with the Clippers and is a solid rotational option.
Norman Powell will seek to replace some of the lost scoring in the Klay trade. While he isn’t as good of a movement shooter as Thompson, he is a varied scorer who averaged 17.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over the last season.
Marcus Morris Sr. will be a veteran big-body forward presence that Steve Kerr can rely on when the woefully thin power forward rotation of Draymond and Jonathan Kuminga is hurt or underperforming. He averaged 11.2 points and 4.0 rebounds last season.
The Warriors are unlikely to get a star back if they’re forced to trade Thompson, so taking back various rotational players who have contributed to winning teams may be their best course forward.
The Clippers Go All Or Nothing
This move would be perfect for the Clippers. With Russell Westbrook as their starting point guard, they don’t have as pressing of a need to acquire James Harden as people say they do. But acquiring an off-ball scoring specialist like Thompson alongside two standout wings in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard could work wonders. All the players could be free agents next season, so Thompson can maintain future flexibility while contending in his home state.
Thompson averaged 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season in one of the best regular seasons of his career. Unfortunately, that form didn’t carry over onto the playoffs as Thompson averaged 16.2 points on 34.3% from the field in their second-round loss to the Lakers. That performance is what’s causing the Warriors to be careful with the contract they offer him, which could play in the Clippers’ favor.
They’ve been trying to move off Morris and Powell anyway, so they’ll find replacements for those players, possibly even promoting players from their own roster. Zubac is a big blow but the Clippers will hope to lean heavily on Mason Plumlee at center and add a veteran rotation option if available.
Klay, Kawhi, and George could all be free agents together next season, which could lead to the Clippers making one final push to maximize their chances of winning this season.
An Unfortunate Split Leads To Two Balanced Contenders
Thompson expressed his desire to retire on the Warriors last week, so a trade to end his 12-year tenure with the franchise would be heartbreaking. If he has a value in mind and the Warriors know they won’t be matching that given the hell they’re in with luxury tax penalties and the league’s new cap rules restricting their movement in free agency, it’s time to let Klay go.
The only long-term contract they pick up in this trade is Norman Powell’s, and he’s a valuable player that they could use or move down the line. Morris Sr. will be a free agent next season, while Zubac is on a very affordable deal until the end of next season. It gives the Warriors clarity as the Stephen Curry era draws to a close, operating like the business they are instead of just agreeing to whatever Klay wants given his status as a franchise legend.
The Clippers go all-in on winning with this core this season before they have to make a decision on the future. Without giving up picks, the Clippers won’t mind doing this swap of rotational players since they aren’t leveraging any future assets. If Klay leaves regardless next summer, at least the Clippers won’t feel the burn as compared to George leaving with the franchise still owing picks to OKC till 2026.
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