Sources: Warriors And Klay Thompson 2-3 Million Dollars Apart On Extension
In the not so distant past, the Golden State Warriors were in the mix for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love. Conditional upon the Warriors’ chances of acquiring Love from Minnesota was including Klay Thompson in a trade package, which they obviously never pulled the trigger on. Now the Warriors are in negotiations with Thompson about an extension, and according to sources via CSN Bay Area, the two sides are a few million dollars apart from settling on a deal:
The Warriors have 22 days to preemptively deliver a contract extension that will keep Klay Thompson with the franchise for at least another five years.
But there has been no movement in recent weeks. As of Thursday morning, the sides remain $2-3 million a year apart, according to NBA sources.
Thompson is reportedly looking for a max deal, something around the $15 million range, which would have admittedly been a sure deal for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the Warriors and CEO Joe Lacob are offering closer to $13 million per year. Sources say that Lacob is looking to avoid paying the luxury tax on a max deal for Thompson, who can become a free agent next summer.
Since Kevin Love didn’t pan out, you would think the Warriors might heed to Thompson’s value, particularly after his impressive standing with Team USA’s gold medal team at the World Championships this summer. Thompson and his agent Bill Duffy have 22 days to resolve an agreement that ensures one half of the Warriors’ Spalsh brothers tandem remains in Golden State for the long run.