‘We want him back’: Warriors strategize way to keep star player
As discussions between the Golden State Warriors and Klay Thompson have stagnated, and free agency begins, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has restated his position on the 12-year guard: “We want him back.”
This summer, the Warriors will confront a number of personnel dilemmas as they seek to return to championship contention — or at least the playoffs. However, Thompson’s deal provides a distinct level of emotional difficulty.
“I think being reasonable and rational is always how I’m going to operate, but to say about a guy like Klay Thompson, who’s meant so much to this franchise, to completely remove the emotion from it, I think that’s almost impossible,” Dunleavy said at his pre-draft news conference Monday.
Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement that went into effect last summer, the Warriors and Thompson were permitted to begin negotiations as soon as the NBA Finals concluded. However, sources tell ESPN that there has been little communication between the two parties.
Thompson will ultimately make the decision, but he intends to test the waters of free agency first, according to ESPN sources.
“I think it’s about what the right thing that works for the franchise and the player and the role he is in,” Dunleavy told the media. “What’s most important is to take all of those factors into account, and that’s what’s going on and what we’re looking at. There are undoubtedly varied degrees of what that value is, but it’s up to me to choose the appropriate quantity for our team.
Another decision the Warriors must make involves veteran guard Chris Paul, who has a non-guaranteed salary of $30 million for 2024-25. The Warriors have till Friday to take it up or release him.
“We’re looking through everything,” Dunleavy added. “There are still a lot of choices for keeping Chris. Obviously, there is the possibility that he will be waived… but I would say that everything is open.”
Including Paul’s non-guaranteed contract and the $8 million Golden State guaranteed Kevon Looney on Monday, the Warriors’ compensation for 2024-25 totals $175 million.
Owner Joe Lacob has publicly acknowledged his goal to avoid the luxury tax, but Dunleavy believes there are situations in which Golden State does not.
“It’s about being smart about it,” Dunleavy remarked. “It’s more like, if there’s a reason to discuss the tax or one of the aprons, we’ll do it. The most important thing for [Lacob] is winning. He’s demonstrated that. “You just have to be cautious with the new rules.”
