When Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins signed four-year contract extensions with the Warriors on Sunday, the focus shifted to Draymond Green's status with the team and what those two deals mean for him.
But Klay Thompson is the other member of the Warriors' core whose future is in limbo, though not as much as Green's.
Thompson has two years left on his Warriors contract but was eligible to sign an extension this offseason. Golden State prioritized locking up Poole and Wiggins, who are viewed as key pieces to keep the dynasty going.
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Thompson, who will earn roughly $84 million between this season and next, told NBA.com's Mark Medina that his agents haven't yet spoken to the Warriors' front office about an extension and he explained how he believes his situation will unfold.
"I’m just going to do what I got to do to be the best I can be every day," Thompson told Medina. "I’m going to be a great player. I know what I’m capable of. I fully expect to earn another NBA contract, whether it’s this summer or next summer. I’m fully confident in my abilities. I’m not worried about an extension in the meantime because I know it’ll happen if I just do my job and I just be myself."
With Poole and Wiggins locked up through the 2026-27 season, many analysts wonder if the end is near for the Warriors' big three of Thompson, Green and Steph Curry as a dynamic trio.
Green has a $27.6 million player option for the 2023-24 season, and while he is expected to exercise it, that could be his last season with the Warriors due to the looming massive luxury-tax bills Golden State is going to have to start paying.
Golden State Warriors
If the next year or two are the so-called last dance for one of the most iconic trios in Bay Area sports history, Thompson isn't interested in thinking about it.
"I don’t want to believe that, but Draymond has a player option next year," Thompson told Medina. "You never know what happens. Whether it is or it isn’t, we have to think about what we can do to repeat because that itself is such a hard task and such a great opportunity. To have a chance to get five [titles] with Draymond, Steph and Andre [Iguodala] is a crazy, crazy thing to contextualize. I’m so freaking excited to get this season going."
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For now, Thompson is focused on collecting his fourth NBA championship ring during a pregame ceremony before the Warriors' season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at Chase Center.
If the Warriors can repeat as champions this season, a year from now, Thompson will get that fifth ring he covets so much.