Owner of the Golden State Warriors Joe Lacob advised the team’s worried supporters not to stress too much about the Klay Thompson contract talks, which are threatening to extend into the regular season since they are taking longer than anticipated to be resolved.
“I hope it’s not a distraction,” Lacob said in an interview with 95.7 The Game’s Bonta Hill and Joe Shasky on “The Morning Roast” on Wednesday. “I mean, we’re not in control of this.”
“There are two sides to every negotiation. We want him back. He wants to be back. It’s kind of like Draymond [Green’s contract situation this past summer]. I think everyone needs to just chill a little bit. Let it take its course. My guess is it works out. I can’t control it. I can’t dictate it. You can’t dictate it. Fans can’t dictate it. These things have to take their course. There are different parties involved, but the intentions are really good,” Lacob continued.
Following a report from ESPN NBA source Adrian Wojnarowski that “there has been absolutely no progress” in the continuing talks, Lacob made his comments two days later.
There is no impending deadline for an agreement between Thompson and the Warriors. At any time throughout the season, they can do it. However, the persistent concerns about one of their key players’ futures might cause them to lose focus, as it did during Kevin Durant’s turbulent last season with the Warriors.
The five-year, $190 million deal that Thompson, 33, signed after injuring his ACL during the 2019 NBA Finals is now approaching its last year. Due to ACL and Achilles problems, he missed the first two and a half seasons of his current deal.
Klay Thompson anticipates a maximum extension
Thompson anticipates a max-level contract extension, according to Wojnarowski, unlike Green who accepted a price cut to return and signed a four-year, $100 million deal last summer.
“ I’m seeking a championship. And everything else after that will play itself out.”
Klay Thompson on Woj report that he has an expectation that he will be rewarded w/a new max-level contract extension this offseason. pic.twitter.com/NxtvJcqjZ7
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 17, 2023
The Warriors are attempting to balance their cap sheet in light of the harsh luxury tax penalties of the new collective bargaining agreement, and that may be the sticking point in the discussions.
Wojnarowski’s story was not confirmed nor denied by Thompson.
If Thompson pursues free agency next summer, the Warriors would prefer not to have him because he will be in high demand.
