Despite surging toward the end of the regular season, the Golden State Warriors lost their lone play-in tournament game to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, and as a result, they will not take part in this year’s NBA playoffs.
Many feel their dynasty is practically dead, and they will have some difficult decisions to make this offseason.
The biggest decision they need to make is what to do with Klay Thompson, who will be a free agent.
Draymond Green said that there’s “not one person in this organization that does not want” Thompson to stay put, per The Volume.
“There’s not one person in this organization that does not want Klay Thompson back” – @Money23Green 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/l00TZi1cqx
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) April 18, 2024
Thompson, Green, and Stephen Curry make up the threesome that carried the Warriors to four NBA championships and six NBA Finals appearances in a span of eight seasons.
But Thompson seems to be a shell of his former self after tearing his ACL and Achilles a few years ago, and he will be expensive to retain.
Golden State is already well over the salary cap because of the money they have committed to players such as Green, Curry, and Andrew Wiggins, so even if they’re willing to commit big bucks to Thompson, they may not be able to do so and still navigate the league’s ever more restrictive salary cap.
While Thompson shot better in the last few weeks of the season, his 43.2 percent mark from the field and 38.7 percent accuracy from 3-point range were well below his career averages.
All in all, the Warriors need to get younger if they are to salvage what is left of Curry’s viability as a superstar, and keeping the 34-year-old Thompson may hinder that.
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Warriors GM Speaks Out About Klay Thompson Speculation