Klay Thompson is entering the final year of his five-year $189 million deal. The Golden State Warriors guard will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. As such, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report believes that Thompson will be under increased pressure to prove his worth throughout the 2023-24 season.
Thompson is now two years removed from his injury struggles and has already added another championship to his tally. However, it’s clear that Thompson isn’t the same player he once was, as age and injuries have caught up with him. It’s here, in the slight decline, that Buckley envisions questions being raised regarding how much to pay Thompson next summer.
“Contract years are always pressure cookers, but the burden on Klay Thompson’s shoulders feels particularly heavy,” Buckley wrote. “…The Dubs need his shooting to help their offense breathe, but they could use more of the other stuff than he supplied last season. It’s possible he’s still forming his post-injury identity, but maybe he’ll just function as something like a shooting specialist in this phase of his career. Golden State’s title odds and Thompson’s future earnings will be greatly impacted by his play this season.”
Thompson may not be the three-and-d player he once was, but he’s still among the best sharpshooters in the NBA. The five-time All-Star is also an above-average defender for his size and position. As such, it’s likely that Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors will look to tie him down to another contract next summer, but, as Buckley points out, deciding on the price point will be a tough decision
Story originally appeared on Warriors Wire
