Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors are negotiating a contract extension. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne said on The Lowe Post podcast that the two parties have discussed an extension but will go slowly.
Klay Thompson's contract extension talks have begun, Shelburne said. The process is slow. It's not true that he's been eligible for a long; they've started discussing.
Exchanged suggestions. We're not rushing these talks. Two-way optionality. He may quit because he had a bad year last year. He should have a good year to increase his value."
She said that Thompson's deal is delayed by financial issues, including Golden State's luxury-tax penalties and the new CBA's team-building constraints.
Thompson will earn $43.2 million in his final year of deal. After 69 games, he averaged 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. His 69 games in his second year after a two-year injury break were promising.
The Warriors will have more constraints owing to being over the tax threshold, and Thompson's contract will tie up more money in a few players under the new CBA.
The Warriors want Thompson, Green, and Steph Curry to play together forever, but that may be difficult.
Chris Paul presumably being released at the conclusion of the season will be a great boost, and Thompson playing with an unknown future is not a bad thing.