The Warriors spent much of this offseason signing and re-signing high priority free agents they believe will play a role in continuing their success of past years. Stephen Curry received a new supermax deal, Kevin Durant signed a discounted two-year deal with a player option for the second season, and Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Zaza Pachulia, and JaVale McGee all signed new contracts that will keep them in the Bay at least through this year.
The Warriors did have Klay Thompson and Draymond Green already under contract through this season, but anxiety lingered about what Thompson would do when he hit free agency in the summer of 2019.
Anxiety fans of other franchises would laugh at, but anxiety nonetheless.
Yet it appears that even this particular superfluous anxiety has been allayed somewhat. On today’s episode of the Warriors Plus/Minus Podcast with KNBR Warriors Insider Marcus Thompson and Tim Kawakami of The Athletic Bay Area (h/t Chris Barnewall/CBS Sports), Thompson addressed his impending free agency, and indicated that he might be willing to take less money in order to enable the Warriors to keep their most important players together.
Kawakami: “Could you (take a discount?”)
Thompson: “I probably could, yeah. That much (as much as Durant)? I don’t know. I don’t make as much as Kevin off the court.”
…
“If it’s a few million … It’s a blessing whatever contract I sign. I would definitely consider it cause I don’t want to lose anybody.”
With Durant, Curry, and now Thompson all expressing willingness to take less money to keep the Warriors together, it appears the team’s future looks as bright as its present.