Jun 13, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors in game six of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
June 29, 2019
Klay Thompson plans to keep splashing 3-pointers by the bay.
The Golden State Warriors are prepared to sign Thompson to a five-year, $190 million maximum contract, according to multiple reports. The Warriors are sending a front-office contingent to Los Angeles to visit Thompson as the NBA free-agent signing period is set to begin Sunday evening.
Thompson has reportedly indicated he would return to the Warriors if a max deal was offered.
Thompson, 29, has spent his entire eight-season career with the Warriors. He has averaged at least 20 points per game in each of the last five seasons and played a key role in the Warriors’ championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018 as one of the “Splash Brothers” alongside Stephen Curry.
The Los Angeles native tore his left ACL during Game 6 of this year’s NBA Finals and is expected to be out until at least February or March of next season.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr routinely has praised Thompson, who also earned a spot on the NBA’s All-Defensive Team this season.
“When you factor in what he does offensively, I think he probably covers more ground than anybody in the league,” Kerr said before the start of the NBA Finals. “And I know you can look that up these days with the tracking system that we have now in all the arenas, but the guy’s a machine. It’s incredible how he moves offensively and then pursues his man defensively.
“(He) usually plays on the ball defensively, does a lot of switching, guards post men after the switch. The physical stamina that Klay displays is amazing. Leads us in minutes, minutes played, so he’s just a machine out there.”
The Warriors will open next season in a new arena along the San Francisco Bay.
The team’s focus now will shift to the future of Kevin Durant, who also is a free agent. Durant is expected to meet with four teams, including the Warriors.
–Field Level Media
