Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson has become one of the best players at his position in the NBA, and he wants to get paid like one.
According to a Yahoo report, his camp has expressed frustration that Golden State hasn't offered a maximum deal that'd be worth around $15 million a year. The Warriors were originally offering $12 million a year, but have since raised their offer to be in the "vicinity" of a max contract.
Both sides have until October 31 to reach an agreement on the extension, or Thompson will become a restricted free agent after the season.
Golden State owner Joe Lacob reportedly isn't comfortable giving Thompson the max, while a source close to Thompson said anything other than that would be "absurd" considering his place among the elite shooting guards in the league and the influx of money the league will be getting from their new TV deal.
Being a restricted free agent means the Warriors will have the opportunity to match any offer Thompson receives in free agency. It's expected that someone will offer him a max contract, which may be more than it is now due to the new money and a salary cap increase. If Golden State plans to keep Thompson, they'll save money in the long-term by offering him the max extension now.
Thompson averaged 18.1 ppg last season and played a major role for Team USA in their gold medal run at the FIBA World Cup this summer.
Back to the Golden State Warriors Newsfeed