The Golden State Warriors have reportedly made a contract offer to free agent sharpshooter Klay Thompson. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast on Thursday that the Warriors have a two-year offer on the table for Thompson. However, Thompson is reportedly looking for at least a three-year deal in free agency.
“We’ve heard that it’s a two-year offer,” MacMahon said.
However, he added, “It’s as much about years as dollars in some of these cases,” in regards to what Thompson is looking for.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 12: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to making a basket in the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Chase Center on April 12, 2024… KAVIN MISTRY/GETTY IMAGES
Thompson, 34, enters an offseason of uncertainty after spending the first 13 years of his career with the Golden State Warriors organization.
Following a disappointing 2024 season that culminated in a Play-In Tournament loss to the Sacramento Kings, there were tons of questions about whether the famous “Big Three” of Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green had played their final game together.
Recently, Thompson wiped the Warriors from his social media and unfollowed them, only adding fuel to that speculation. However, the Warriors are clearly at least attempting to bring Thompson back, which lines up with what head coach Steve Kerr said following the team’s unceremonious end to the season.
“We need Klay back,” Kerr said in April. “He still has good years left. And I speak for everyone, we want him back.”
Curry, who continued his dominance in 2023-24, also made it known he wanted both Thompson and Green on the Warriors next season.
“I can never see myself not with those two guys,” Curry said in April. “I understand this league changes and there’s so many things that go into it, and we’re not going to play forever, but we’ve experienced so much together. At the end of the day, I know they want to win, I know I want to win, that’s all I’m worried about.”
The Warriors were the dynasty of the NBA for the better part of the last decade, thanks in large part to Curry, Thompson, and Green. The Warriors have won four NBA titles since 2016, including most recently in 2022 against this year’s champion, the Boston Celtics.
While Thompson would likely welcome a return to Golden State, he isn’t going to take a pay cut. Thompson understands his worth as a five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA member, and four-time NBA champion, as well as being one of the greatest shooters of all time.
While the 2023-24 season was a down year for Thompson, he still managed to play in 77 games, averaging 17.9 points a contest on 43.2 percent shooting from the field, 38.7 percent shooting from deep, and an incredible 92.7 percent shooting from the free throw line. Thompson wants to get the contract he feels he deserves, whether it’s from the Warriors or another team.
