SAN FRANCISCO — Klay Thompson quickly left the Golden 1 Center Tuesday night in Sacramento, the wounds from another elimination loss too fresh to speak to reporters. He missed all 10 of his shots and scored zero points, a “big old donut” he would later call, as his impending free agency looms over his head and the entire Golden State Warriors organization .
That made Thompson the star attraction at exit interviews Wednesday afternoon. He was the last of the players to speak and the voice everyone heard. Around 3 p.m. PT – after meeting with Mike Dunleavy and Steve Kerr – Thompson entered the room with a big lip. This came from an elbow during the Sacramento Kings game and only added to the atmosphere.
Thompson was immediately peppered with a question about free agency.
“We don’t want to talk about the season first?” » he retorted. “You want to talk about the future? There’s been a lot of games played, man. It was a very big success. What happens if you don’t want to live in the present, brother? It’s ridiculous. Anyway, what was your question?
Thompson was reminded why his future is such a relevant topic. He is a franchise legend and local icon, playing 13 seasons and winning four titles for the same franchise. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr are all already under contract for at least two more seasons. Thompson’s contract expires. Extension talks came to nothing. It’s a very realistic outcome to believe he will leave Golden State this summer, marking the end of an era.
“You know, I haven’t really thought about it because of what I just said about the season,” Thompson said. “I really haven’t thought as deeply about the future because I still need to process the year we’ve had. It was a time filled with ups and downs, but at the end of the day, we – myself and our team did everything we could to try to win as many games as possible.
The early release provides an extra buffer before free agency, but the league is changing quickly. Thompson’s conversation with Kerr and Dunleavy on Wednesday was the first of what will surely be many significant back-and-forths between Thompson, Kerr, Dunleavy, Curry, Green, Joe Lacob and Kirk Lacob in the weeks to come.
“Wow, considering it’s April 17, I don’t think I need to change course that quickly,” Thompson said. “When is free agency? 1st of July? Yeah, I have time. I’ve got time.
Most agents, front office personnel and insiders know that free agency doesn’t really start on July 1st. It basically ends. All the big decisions materialize behind the scenes during preparation. So this monumental pick for Thompson and the Warriors is happening at a faster pace than the outside world might believe. But nothing has yet been decided at this stage. The league often reacts and evolves based on what happens in the playoffs, which begin this weekend.
What are Thompson’s priorities?
“Obviously you want to keep winning,” he said. “I mean, when you’ve been a part of winning seasons, you don’t really want to get away from that. So I would like to win again. A (championship ring) for the thumb would be nice. I still think it’s within reach. It’s just, yes, going to take a huge amount of effort. But other than that, I just have to think about this, what will really make you happy in the later years of your career.
Kerr, Curry and Green all made it a point Tuesday night to tell reporters that they wanted Thompson back and that they believed he would. Green said he believes the organization will pay what it takes because it always has, referring specifically to the fact that it gave Thompson a max deal in the summer of 2019 after he tore his ACL in the final game of the NBA Finals.
“Oh, man,” Thompson said. “Well, in 2019, could you imagine if they didn’t pay me after I got injured? That would have been really bad. Like, “Oh, I went to five finals in a row, you blew out your knee, yeah, sorry.” So no, I mean, it was very nice of them. Every year, I give my best. And the ownership group has been great. I only have positive things to say about them. They treat us like they treat us with great respect and do all the little things so that we can do our job at the highest level. So it’s been, I mean, I don’t really know how to answer that. I mean, it’s up to them, but at the end of the day, no matter what, it’s all gravy. This has been such a special race.
Here is a video of most of these responses. His body language is always revealing.
Here are the answers related to Klay Thompson’s free agency today
“What happens if you don’t want to live in the present?” Ridiculous.”
“Well, since it’s April 17th, I don’t need to pivot so quickly. When is free agency? 1st of July? I’ve got time. pic.twitter.com/G7FFlefdnL
-Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2024
Here are some other relevant notes from the exit interviews.
Kuminga is eligible for extension this summer. He’s still under a $7.6 million contract next season, but the Warriors could avoid restricted free agency next summer if they agree to a deal. These discussions usually only intensify in October.
“Oh, wow, I never, I didn’t even think about that,” Kuminga said. “It’s just something that I think my agent will work on. For now, I’m just going to focus on my mind and my body and everything will take care of itself.
As for his future with the Warriors, Kuminga said, “I love it here.”
Jonathan Kuminga is eligible for extension this summer: “Oh, wow. I hadn’t even thought about it.
On his future: “I love it here. » pic.twitter.com/I0i5gGwMAo
-Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2024
Kuminga was asked about his biggest area of growth this season and said communication, an obvious reference to the difficult times he experienced with his limited playing time before finally having a tough conversation with Kerr.
“Sometimes people don’t know you if you don’t talk,” Kuminga said. “Sometimes people don’t know what’s going on in your mind if you don’t actually see it. I don’t know what’s going on in my coaches’ heads if I don’t ask them questions, and questions are communication. It’s the same way you ask me about everything, about basketball or about my life. You wouldn’t know if I didn’t communicate with you. I think that’s the most important thing. That’s pretty much what I had to do and learn, just be myself and find a way to communicate with my teammates, my coaches.
Wiggins is 29 years old but is coming off the worst offensive season of his career. The former 23-point-per-game scorer averaged 13.2 points this season, more than 3 points shy of his previous career low. This was his worst field goal percentage (45.3%) in five seasons and 3-point percentage (35.8%) in four seasons.
“My season wasn’t very good,” Wiggins said. “Not great. I feel like I started to pick it up in the second half of the season. But the first half wasn’t very good. Team-wise, I “We felt like we were really good in the second half of the season. We were thinking about things, but it’s a shame that it ended like this.”
Wiggins has three years and $84.5 million remaining on his contract. He is a commercial candidate this summer. The Warriors explored deals involving Wiggins before the February deadline.
“I take care of what I can take care of,” Wiggins said. “What is beyond my control, I don’t care. All I can do is work hard, train hard and do what I can do.
The Warriors rookie plans to play in the NBA Summer League, believing a more used role on the ball will better prepare him for next season.
“Naturally my role will increase,” Podziemski said. “I think the ball will be in my hands a little bit more and just be more effective, trying to take the load off Steph and Draymond’s shoulders. How can the rest of our guys impact things? I think a lot of times when we were going into games that really mattered or we really needed to win, we would defer to Steph.
Brandin Podziemski on his expectations next season: “Naturally, my role will increase. I think the ball will be a little more in my hands. Just being more efficient, trying to take the burden off Steph and Draymond’s shoulders.
He plans to play in Summer League pic.twitter.com/S6fPfovpbl
-Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2024
Tracey Jackson-Davis
Jackson-Davis also said he will participate in at least part of Summer League and mentioned several areas he would like to improve.
“When we actually talked, coach mentioned (Domantas) Sabonis’ name (for comparison),” Jackson-Davis said. “I just think how hard he plays with dribble handoffs, stuff of that nature. He may attempt a 3 a game, but that’s not necessarily who he is as a player. It’s definitely something I want to develop. The free throws and the drives and the reversals, I have to translate that. I think about free throws and then being able to catch and shoot 3s.”
Jackson-Davis also mentioned the defensive side of the court and the need to expand his versatility.
Trayce Jackson-Davis mentioned his defensive versatility as an area he would like to develop this offseason: “Being able to change. Guards guards.
He figures to be the Warriors’ likely starting center next season. He said he would like to play in Summer League. pic.twitter.com/EvU0XYP6mD
-Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2024
Gary PaytonII
Payton has appeared in only 44 of 82 games this season, battling various illnesses that have kept him out of key moments, including an opt-out for the Kings’ playoff game Tuesday night due to a second strain on the calf this season.
“It was frustrating to just sit there and watch and do nothing,” Payton said. “But it just gave me motivation, it just pushed me to take better care of my body this summer and come back and be ready for 82 next summer.”
Payton has one season remaining on his contract, a $9.1 million player option that he is expected to exercise or exploit to get a longer-term deal at perhaps a lower annual value.
“I would love to come back and do it again,” Payton said. “Better yet, redo my whole deal and stay here a little longer.” We will find out.
Looney is owed $8 million next season, but only $3 million is guaranteed, leaving him vulnerable to a pay cut that would send him to free agency and end his nine-year tenure with the Warriors.
“I don’t always control my future here,” Looney said. “I would love to come back, be part of this team, this organization. That’s all I know. But it’s the NBA. When you don’t make the playoffs, you lose, and things usually happen. So I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I have to prepare for the next step.
(Top photo: Tyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images)