The Golden State Warriors and All-NBA shooting guard Klay Thompson are engaged in discussions on a contract extension, reports Marcus Thompson of The Athletic:
According to multiple sources, Thompson and the Warriors have already engaged in discussions regarding a contract extension. If the sides agree this offseason, Thompson would not hit the free-agent market for up to another five years.
Signing an extension would significantly decrease the maximum Thompson could make — and save the Warriors millions in luxury tax penalties.
The most he could get in the first year of an extension is a 120 percent raise. With the highest annual increases allowed, that would put Thompson’s extension at four years and just over $102 million. Add the $18.9 million he is due to make in 2018-19 and Thompson is looking at a maximum five-year salary of $121 million should he sign an extension.
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What’s more, two sources said talks have included Thompson taking an extension with an average of around $23 million a year — which would come out to about four years, $92 million, nearly $50 million less than he could get on the open market — and puts his five-year total at $111 million.
In October, Thompson said he would “definitely consider” taking a pay-cut to keep the Warriors’ core together.
Thompson has played for the Warriors since they drafted him 11th overall in 2011. For his career, he has averaged 19.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from 3-point range and 85.2 percent from the free-throw line. Thompson has been a model of consistency through his six-year career; he has yet to shoot under 40 percent from beyond the arc in a season. This season, career-best percentages from the field (.488) from the field and from deep (.440).
