Draymond Green made headlines for the Warriors offseason after declining his player option for the 2023-24 NBA season, but another Golden State core element was thrown in a recent trade proposal.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons has suggested a particular trade that would send Klay Thompson, who is eligible for a contract extension this summer, to neighboring Golden State in Northern California.
“What if the Kings called the Warriors and said, ‘We will give you [Kevin] Boo for Klay? You’d save $27.3 million this year plus all taxes,” Simmons said on his podcast. and we’ll take Klay back. We’ll pick up Klay’s senior year and then we’ll find an extension with him.
“And now we have one of three Warriors, take us seriously. Klay Thompson is now on the Sacramento Kings.”
The four-time champion is entering the final year of his five-year, $190 million contract with the Warriors. But if Golden State wants to bring Green back and make him an offer in free agency, the two would have to take a pay cut to stay in the bay.
Plus, Simmons thinks Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé’s former Warrior ties could help make that happen.
Last week, the Kings traded their first draft pick to clear a salary cap. They now have about $35 million in cap space to make a splash in free agency.
Huerter, entering the second year of his four-year, $65 million contract, owes $15.6 million in 2023-24.
Both Thompson and Huerter are known for their marksmanship. They recently came face to face in the first round of the playoffs when the Warriors defeated the Kings in an intense NorCal showdown that went all the way to Game 7.
In his first season with the Kings, Hurter averaged 12.2 points on 44.4% shooting from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range while Thompson, in his 12th season with the Warriors, averaged 19.8 points on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 41.6. percent of downtown.
Thompson said he’d like to retire a Warrior, but ultimately it’s the NBA. And like Simmons’ business proposition, things can get weird once free will kicks in.
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