SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson headed to the bench with 2:13 remaining of their play-in recreation in opposition to the Sacramento Kings, his head hung low. He made a spherical of hugs with staff trainers and teammates earlier than he took his seat. After the ultimate buzzer sounded, he took a second earlier than exiting the court docket to look again on the Kings lighting the beam.
It was probably Thompson’s final recreation with the Warriors.
The 118-94 loss to the Kings despatched Golden State into its earliest offseason in three years. And it despatched Thompson into unrestricted free company.
“We’d like Klay again,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated after the sport. “He is nonetheless received good years left. And I do know I converse for everyone within the group: We wish him again. … What Klay has meant to this franchise and nearly as good as he nonetheless is, we desperately need him again.”
Thompson did not converse after the sport, however at shootaround seven hours earlier than tipoff, he stated it wasn’t troublesome to maintain the ideas of free company out of his thoughts as he completed the season.
“That is life,” Thompson stated. “Had a lot success right here, I am not going to let no matter future occurs make me salty about what I have been in a position to accomplish in a Warriors uniform. I do not let that seep in in any respect.”
Thompson’s season finale left lots to be desired, as he was held scoreless on 0-of-10 taking pictures, together with 0-of-6 from 3. It was simply the fifth time in Thompson’s profession that he failed to attain one level. It was his second time beneath Kerr, however the different was when he was ejected 1:43 right into a Nov. 23 recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It was a efficiency Kerr stated was robust to look at Thompson undergo.
“I’ve watched him the final couple years preventing the sensation of devastation from accidents and I watched him this season flip his season round,” Kerr stated. “I noticed him benefit from the second half of the season and play with a bit extra freedom and pleasure, so tonight was robust to see him battle.”
Thompson entered Tuesday’s play-in recreation coming off what he referred to as the “greatest stretch of basketball of the yr.” Via the final 4½ weeks of the common season, Thompson was second on the staff in scoring, averaging 21.2 factors on 48.1% subject aim taking pictures and 41.2% from 3.
The 77 video games he performed had been his most because the 2018-19 season — earlier than he tore an ACL and an Achilles.
“It is about commending him on a hell of a yr,” Stephen Curry stated. “Everybody goes to speak about one recreation, and I do know he wished to do higher. We undergo a lot over 82 video games, and the truth that he was in a position to flip his season round with a brand new position and adjusting … simply actually having enjoyable enjoying basketball and being at peace on the market with all of it, I am extra frightened about that.”
Conversations for a brand new deal stalled between Thompson and the group because the season started within the fall. They by no means actually restarted in the course of the season, however there wasn’t a lot concern over it because the Warriors navigated their ups and downs, Inexperienced’s suspensions, the loss of life of assistant coach Dejan Milojevic and Thompson working his manner out of his private funk.
However sources instructed ESPN that all through the season, there wasn’t a lot reassurance that there would undoubtedly be a decision between each events. That’s what rubbed Thompson the fallacious manner, greater than something.
Nonetheless, Inexperienced continues to be assured a brand new deal will likely be reached.
“[Klay is] going to make the perfect resolution for him, the staff’s received a call to make and so they’ll make the perfect resolution for the staff. … I do not assume there’s any state of affairs the place Klay leaves and that is the perfect resolution for this staff and group,” Inexperienced stated. “[The organization] has proven nothing however respect, loyalty, love and belief. I’ve received no motive to assume, oh man, they are not going to do proper by Klay.
“I’ve no motive to assume that our possession group is not going to deal with us the best way we’ve got taken care of this group.”
Inexperienced is beneath contract with the Warriors till the 2025-26 season, with a participant possibility ready for him in 2026-27. Curry’s and Kerr’s offers even have them with the staff till the tip of 2026.
Thompson’s want is to hopefully strike a contract that aligns with the remainder of the Warriors’ dynastic core, sources instructed ESPN.
“I do not assume there’s any state of affairs the place Klay leaves and that is the perfect resolution for this staff and group. (The group) has proven nothing however respect, loyalty, love and belief. I’ve received no motive to assume, oh man, they are not going to do proper by Klay. I’ve no motive to assume that our possession group is not going to deal with us the best way we’ve got taken care of this group.”
Draymond Inexperienced
“I might by no means see myself not with these two guys,” Curry stated. “I perceive this league modifications and there are such a lot of issues that go into it and we’re not going to play endlessly, however we have skilled a lot collectively and on the finish of the day I do know they wish to win, I do know I wish to win, and that is all I am frightened about.”
Having their season lower quick by a Kings staff that exhibited “complete domination” was described as a horrible feeling, irritating and upsetting.
So, alongside the will to maintain that group collectively is an understanding that modifications must be made for the Warriors to get again in competition in a particularly crowded Western Convention.
“That is life. That is the way it works. You do not get to remain on prime endlessly,” Kerr stated. “We have got an offseason the place we have lots to consider.”
However Curry stated it was too early to pinpoint what precisely wants to vary.
“It is uncooked proper now,” he stated. “I am simply determining if I wish to watch the playoffs or not. On April 16, that is unfamiliar territory. … I simply wish to win. No matter meaning, I wish to win.”