Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Insider expects Warriors to retain key free agent

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 4/17/24

The Golden State Warriors season is over.

They fell to the Sacramento Kings in the opening game of the play-in tournament on Tuesday. Klay Thompson produced one of the worst shooting performances of his career, going 0-for-10 and scoring zero points in 32 minutes of play. He is entering unrestricted free agency once the offseason begins.

However, ESPN Insider Brian Windhorst expects the front office to retain Thompson in the summer.

“They’re going to have to reduce their payroll," Windhorst said on Tuesday's episode of 'Get Up.' "They’re spending almost $400 million. Klay Thompson is making $43 million this year. He will not make that from anybody next year and certainly not the Warriors. He’s going to have to take an eight-figure cut to come down...I think they bring Klay Thompson back. I think they like the way this team played at the end of the season"

.@WindhorstESPN doesn't think this season is the end of the Warriors' big three

"I think they bring Klay Thompson back. I think they like the way this team plays at the end of the season." pic.twitter.com/Y8O4vTPUe7
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 16, 2024

Draymond Green followed a similar line of thought. At his post-game news conference, the veteran forward admitted that he expects the front office to 'do right' by Thompson.

"I’ve got no reason to go into it like, ‘Oh man, they’re not going to do by right by Klay,’" Green said. "They’ve done right by me. They’ve done right by Steph. They’ve done right by all of us. Klay tore his ACL, they paid him $160 million. I have no reason to think our ownership group aren’t going to take care of us, the way we’ve taken care of this organization."

Draymond Green on his belief the organization will prioritize Klay Thompson: “They did right by me. They’ve done right by Steph. They’ve done right by all of us. Klay tore his ACL and they gave him $160 million dollars.” pic.twitter.com/Px3jR74cQz
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2024

Nevertheless, the Warriors have some tough decisions ahead. They've been a tax-paying team for the majority of their dynasty. Finding a way to cut back on salaries while also re-tooling their roster is going to be a difficult task. Still, this roster is only two years removed from winning a championship. Their aging veterans are still talented enough to make another run, assuming they have a strong supporting cast.

Thompson's future is a big question for the Warriors. His struggles against the Kings will ensure there's a lot of attention on him and the franchise. Nevertheless, Golden State would be wise to keep their core together. Thompson is a future Hall of Famer. He's won four championships, knows his teammate's tendencies and can still be a championship piece. The only difference is that he won't be a primary option.

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