Golden State Warriors star shooting guard Klay Thompson is open to a possible contract extension before his deal expires after the 2018-2019 season, he told Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports.
“I try not to think that far ahead, but I’d love to be here for as long as I can,” Thompson said when asked by Amick about the chances of him signing a contract extension two off-seasons from now. “What we’ve built here is so special, and I love living in the Bay Area, so that would be a huge priority of mine … I just feel like if I play hard and work hard every day, I’ll get rewarded no matter what I do, so I’m not going to get caught up with the numbers and how much money I could potentially make because it’ll all come around. You’ve just got to stay humble and be appreciative of what I have. And if I keep working this hard, I’ll be rewarded.”
Before the Warriors look at Thompson’s contract, they will have to get an extension done with star Stephen Curry, who will be an unrestricted free agent this off-season. It’s also likely they will have to re-sign Kevin Durant, as he will likely opt-out of the second-year of his contract.
Per Spotrac, Thompson earned $15.5 million last season, and is earning a base salary of $16.6 million this season. In 2017-2018, Thompson’s salary will raise to $17.8 million, and then rise again to $18.9 million in the final year of the deal.
The NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement will make it easier for the Warriors and other teams across the league to keep their veteran players, like Thompson will be in 2019. Thompson will be eligible to receive the NBA’s new designated player contract extension if he makes one of the three All-NBA teams this season or next season.
If Thompson doesn’t make an All-NBA team, he could then sign the designated veteran extension, which can be worth up to 30% of a NBA team’s cap space. If Curry, Durant, and Draymond Green are all Warriors’ when Thompson’s contract is up, it should be interesting to see how Golden State plans to keep the four of them.
Thompson is averaging 21.3 points. 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game this season.
