Before the start of the 2014-15 NBA season, there were numerous rumors about the Golden State Warriors entertaining offers for Klay Thompson. While most of the rumors centered around Kevin Love, the Los Angeles Lakers were rumored to offer the seventh pick in the 2014 NBA Draft for the talented shooting guard.
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With the Lakers ultimately selecting Julius Randle with the seventh pick and Kevin Love gone to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Warriors are now working on a contract extension with Thompson, but remain apart according to Monte Poole of CSN Bay Area:
The Warriors have 22 days to preemptively deliver a contract extension that will keep Klay Thompson with the franchise for at least another five years.
But there has been no movement in recent weeks. As of Thursday morning, the sides remain $2-3 million a year apart, according to NBA sources.
With the Warriors and Thompson $2-3 million apart, the guard is seeking a maximum contract according to Poole:
Thompson is seeking a max deal, or something close – at least $15 million per year – while the Warriors, according to sources, hover around $13 million per.
Should both sides be unable to come to an agreement, Thompson will head into the next off-season as a restricted free agent with the Warriors able to match any offers. If Thompson does not want to remain with the Warriors long-term, he could follow in the footsteps of Detroit Pistons big man Greg Monroe and sign the qualifying offer, which would make him unrestricted in 2016.
Thompson is the former son of Laker great, Mychal Thompson and the Lakers have expressed interest in the talented two-way guard. It will be interesting to see how this situation develops and if the Lakers will have an opportunity to sign Thompson over the next two summers.
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