Golden State doesn’t have money, no matter what they do.
The Golden State Warriors should re-sign Klay Thompson. That’s my position and I believe it quite firmly. Many out there feel quite differently; you might be one of those people. This isn’t an article trying to convince you to feel differently, though I’ll probably write that article tomorrow, or later this week.
This is just an article to set the record straight on a bit of misinformation I’ve been seeing floating around Warriors fans as everyone sets about on the six-month mission of trying to figure out how to fix the team and get the Dubs back in contention. I’ve heard from a lot of fans who think the Warriors should move on from Thompson and use the money on a different high-profile player.
They cannot do that. For better (if you want Klay back) or for worse (if you’ve proposed such an idea), the Warriors cannot do that. Not because the free agency market is lacking, though it is. Not because a one-and-done postseason flameout will dissuade free agents from considering them a top tier destination, though that’s possible.
Let’s do some quick-and-dirty back-of-the-napkin math. Assuming Gary Payton II opts into his $9.13 million contract for 2024-25, the Warriors have eight players under contract for the upcoming season. That means letting the free agents — including Thompson — walk, letting the players with non-guaranteed team options (Gui Santos and Chris Paul) leave, and not picking up Kevon Looney’s partially-guaranteed deal.
The total of those four contracts? About $134 million. The salary cap for the upcoming season? $141 million.
These are understandable, logical, and reasonable beliefs. But wanting the Dubs to part ways with one of their Hall of Famers so they can use the money elsewhere?
