Klay Thompson’s departure from the Warriors wasn’t an attempt to mend his longtime marriage.
On both sides, but in different degrees.
Six weeks before Thompson agreed to sign a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, Thompson invited Warriors owner Joe Lacob to play a round of golf at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, ESPN reported. Ramona Shelburne and Kendra Andrews report. in a feature story on Wednesday.
According to Shelburne and Andrews, Thompson and Lacob had not discussed any contract details or had any discussions about the team as of mid-May, although Thompson felt honored by the deal in addition to last year.
Over the next few weeks, Thompson’s agent, Greg Lawrence of Wasserman Media Group, made several contract offers to the Warriors, Shelburne and Andrews reported, citing sources.
Shelburne and Andrews said, “By the time this season arrived, Thompson’s representatives had offered the team at least four contracts. “Each time, during the season, the response from the Warriors was that Thompson and the camp should wait while the franchise tried to improve the team with other deals. Above all, according to sources, there were efforts to trade LeBron to the Los Angeles Lakers. James, Brooklyn Nets swingman Mikal Bridges, LA Clippers star Paul George and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen.
Shelburne and Andrews cited sources as saying Thompson’s camp made one final offer to the Warriors: a modest two-year deal worth about $20 million a season. Golden State has expressed its desire to use Thompson in a non-starting role, something Thompson is “not happy about” according to ESPN, but ultimately doesn’t see the request as a deal breaker.
The final offer was about $4 million more than Thompson’s deal with the Mavericks and $2 million less than what Golden State offered Thompson before the start of the 2023-24 NBA season.
According to ESPN, Golden State’s response to the offer was the same as it has been for almost a year:We can’t do it yet.“
Then, in the final week before free agency, Thompson began having a series of difficult conversations leading up to his release, Shelburne and Andrews reported, citing sources. He first met coach Steve Kerr in Los Angeles. He then broke the news to longtime teammates Steph Curry and Draymond Green over the phone. Finally, Thompson called Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy, asking them to help him reach his chosen destination in a sign-and-trade deal.
The Warriors ended up receiving two second-round picks in a three-team trade-and-trade deal with the Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets.
Although the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement, the split between Thompson and the Warriors appears to be amicable, and now Golden State must figure out how to move on from one of its beloved franchise icons.
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