On the night of May 10, 2019, Joe Lacob was in a great mood.
The Warriors stormed out of Houston with a Game 6 victory over the Rockets in the second round of the playoffs, en route to the NBA Finals. Nick Freidell was covering Golden State for ESPN at the time, and remembered a conversation he had with Lacob.
Friedell talks Klay at the 15:30 mark
Friedell joined 95.7 The Game’s “The Morning Roast” Thursday to tell the story and the Warriors’ situation has changed the past five years, especially with Klay Thompson.
“Joe Lacob said, ‘I want Klay to be here forever.’” Friedell told Bonta Hill and Joe Shasky. “And he said, ‘I want Steph to be here forever and I want Klay to be here forever, we have developed a special relationship over time.’
“But we are at the crossroads now, guys. Because Klay’s talent after those injuries, it’s just not at the same level that the Warriors had hoped it would be. And he’s given everything to the organization, but this is business. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I don’t know who draws the hard line for the situation. But if Klay wants mega, mega money, I’d be surprised if it came from the Warriors. I say that knowing full well just how much Lacob loves and respects him.”
Klay is set to enter the final year of his max contract this fall, due to make $43.2 million. Friedell doesn’t think it’s sustainable for the Warriors, who have the league’s highest payroll and are saddled with luxury taxes, to keep cracking open the checkbook.
Klay conversation at 15:35 mark
Thompson struggled through his first portion of the 2022-23 season before January and February were two of the highest-scoring months of his career. But Friedell isn’t convinced the 33-year-old is a max contract guy after his ACL and Achilles injuries cost him two years of his prime.
“If you’re the Warriors and you’re looking at your future – how do you give Klay that much money going forward?,” Friedell said. “He’s beloved, he’s just not the same player anymore. It’s a cold reality of the pro sports business, that is what it is.”
It’s worth noting that Andrew Wiggins signed a below market, four-year, $109 million extension last summer. Maybe Klay will have to make similar concessions to keep the dynasty core together.
Draymond Green also holds an opt-out this summer and coach Steve Kerr is entering the final year of his deal. It's a big year for the front office, which will need a replacement for general manager Bob Myers at the end of the month.
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