© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
It sounds like Klay Thompson wants to stay in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future.
According to a report from Marcus Thompson of The Athletic, Klay and the Warriors have had discussions regarding a contract extension this summer that would keep the four time All-Star in a Golden State uniform for at least the next five seasons.
Thompson could earn a lot more money on the open market by waiting until he becomes a free agent in 2019, likely $50 million more, but doing so would make it nearly impossible for the Warriors to re-sign him, with Curry and Durant presumably making the maximum.
The most Thompson could make with an extension this summer is $102 over the next four years according to The Athletic. When you add the nearly $19 million he’s due to earn next season, that would pay Thompson nearly $121 million over the next five years. That would be a significant pay cut when you consider what Thompson could earn with a max deal on the open market during the 2019 offseason, a five-year, $188 million offer according to current cap projections.
According to Marcus Thompson, Klay has been discussing an even cheaper deal:
What’s more, two sources said talks have included Thompson taking an extension with an average of around $23 million a year — which would come out to about four years, $92 million, nearly $50 million less than he could get on the open market — and puts his five-year total at $111 million.
Thompson signed a four-year, $69 million extension in 2014, which also ended up being a team-friendly contract. Had Thompson waited until the next offseason, he could’ve earned $4 million more.