NBA Rumors: Klay Thompson and Warriors remain 'far apart' on contract extension
Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors have a "significant gap" in contract extension talks, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Right now, "current signs" point toward Thompson entering the free agent pool in 2024 — a potentially seismic shift for the NBA's greatest modern dynasty.
It would be truly shocking for Thompson to leave the Warriors, but this possibility has been percolating for a while. Thompson, who pushed through two major knee injuries to play for the Warriors during their 2022 title run, has not been the same player he was before the injuries.
Last season was an undeniably productive one for the veteran swingman — 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists on .431/.412/.879 splits — but there are crystal-clear signs of decline. Perhaps no greater sign than his defense. Thompson was once considered one of the better iso wing defenders in the NBA. Now, he's a liability the Warriors must actively plan around.
Golden State has already spent significant financial capital on Curry, Green, and Andrew Wiggins. The CP3 contract comes off the books next summer, of course. The idea behind that trade was to ease the financial pressure on the front office to make re-signing Thompson easier. But, if Thompson wants a full max contract at age 34 — one he has "earned," but is no longer worth — it wouldn't be unheralded for the Warriors to simply turn the page. As difficult and uncomfortable as it would be, Thompson's next contract has huge negative downside for whichever team takes the plunge.
There is still plenty of time for the two sides to reach an agreement over the next year, and frankly, Thompson's open market probably doesn't come with a wave of max offers from around the league. All it takes is one team to push Golden State outside its comfort zone, though. Then things get interesting.
NBA Rumors: Contract extension updates for Patrick Williams, Saddiq Bey, Terance Mann, Jaden McDaniels, Josh Green
The latest episode of Zach Lowe's 'The Lowe Post' podcast focused on contract talks for several NBA players who are eligible for rookie-scale extensions. The bar was set with Spurs guard Devin Vassell, who recently signed a five-year, $135 million deal to remain with San Antonio.
With the exception of Tyrese Maxey, who probably won't get paid until next summer to preserve the Sixers' financial flexibility, the most consequential name in the extension mix is Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels. He has emerged as one of the league's premier defensive wings and a highly competent offensive player, to boot.
Lowe considers him worthy of at least $30 million per year.
"If I'm Jaden McDaniels, I'm saying, 'That dude (Vassell) got ($135MM+) playing 38 games on a s—t team with no stakes? I didn't average 18-and-a-half (points) per game, but I shot it well from three. I'm already an All-Defense-level player. You guys – Minnesota, all you people I'm negotiating with, the brass – expressed outrage that I didn't make an All-Defensive team, so you obviously agree that I'm one of the 10 best defensive players in the NBA."
Fair points all around. McDaniels is set to compete for All-Defense honors for the foreseeable future and he flashes intriguing on-ball upside at 6-foot-9, to complement his 39.8 percent success rate from 3-point range. He's an important piece of what Minnesota is building and one has to imagine the Wolves will pay up.
Also of note, per Lowe, are the high demands of Bulls forward Patrick Williams, who could seek a contract as high as $200 million. He then goes on to suggest the Vassell contract as a potential blueprint, one the Bulls would be hesitant to follow. It feels like Williams might be destined for restricted free agency after a prove-it fourth season in Chicago.
Conversations between the Atlanta Hawks and Saddiq Bey are "not going great," per Lowe. He suggests $18-20 million as a potential target number that both sides could feel good about. Bey is expected to start in place of the departed John Collins, but he will face internal pressure from A.J. Griffin and Jalen Johnson.
Terance Mann, entering the first year of a two-year extension worth $22 million, told reporters a new preseason extension is "not happening." He will wait until next summer, be it with the Clippers or another team.
According to Marc Stein, the Mavs and Josh Green continue to discuss a potential rookie-scale extension ahead of the Monday deadline.
NBA Rumors: Darvin Ham announces Taurean Prince as Lakers' fifth starter
Darvin Ham has come to a decision on the Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup. Taurean Prince was announced as the fifth starter, with Ham suggesting that the lucratively extended Rui Hachimura provides more offensive value with the second unit.
Hachimura was signed to a three-year, $51 million contract over the summer. He broke out during the Lakers' conference finals run, supplanting Jarred Vanderbilt in the starting five. He averaged 15.3 points and 3.8 rebounds on .533/.333/1.000 splits during the Lakers' four-game sweep to the Nuggets.
Ham is probably on the right track here. Hachimura is a gifted athlete, using his strength to bludgeon defenders and carve out space on drives to the rim. He flashed more as a 3-point shooter and mid-range threat during the Lakers' postseason run, but Hachimura isn't a great shooter and he doesn't provide much as a passer. He's built to come off the bench, pressure the defense as a slasher, and potentially finish games depending on the matchup.
Prince is the classic 3-and-D wing, a role the Lakers should extract plenty of value out of with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves spearheading the offense. Prince probably presents a more consistent defensive option, too. Expect Hachimura to split backup forward and wing minutes with Vanderbilt, who is an accomplished player in his own right.
The Lakers have a long road back to the conference finals, but a season of good health and improved continuity could lead them right back to the Finals doorstep — even in a crowded Western Conference.
NBA Rumors: Jordan Poole's trash talk upset Warriors' veterans
Jordan Poole's career took a sharp turn in the 2022 preseason when Draymond Green decided to punch him square in the jaw. From there, the chemistry around the franchise eroded and Poole became distant from his veteran teammates, writes Logan Murdock of The Ringer.
As Murdock elegantly lays out, Poole is a naturally shy student of the game. He studies the best players in the NBA — none more than Stephen Curry — and he doesn't hold a locker room like Curry, Green, or Klay Thompson. That doesn't stop Poole from trash-talking on the court, however, and his shot selection was infamously frustrating for teammates and fans alike during Golden State's ill-fated 2023 campaign.
"In practice sessions, Poole's trash talk grated on his veteran teammates, who felt he hadn't earned the right to be brash, even though his style seemed to match the mindset that fueled the start of Golden State's run a decade ago."
Green obviously began his career like Poole, a rookie with a little bit too much confidence. Of course, Green eventually became the heart of Golden State's locker room and a key leader for the team. Once that leadership was tested last season, the entire house of cards collapsed.
Where Poole differs from Green is winning impact. Green tries harder than most on defense; Poole is consistently disengaged on that end. Poole's shot selection would often lead to visible in-game frustration from his teammates, with Curry tossing his mouthpiece as the ultimate example.
Poole now gets the chance to lead his own team. The Warriors, with Chris Paul in the mix, will hope to return to more comfortable terms in the locker room and on the court.
As for the Poole-Green relationship, Curry views both favorably. As he told Murdock, he hopes one day reconciliation is possible.
"There's always that hope. But it's two grown men that can figure that out. They know where we stand on it and how I see both of them individually. So, will I facilitate something? Probably not, but I definitely hope that there can be some kind of, maybe, meeting each other where they're at. Because life is short."
