Klay Thompson wants a maximum contract from the Golden State Warriors, an NBA free agents 2014 rumors update indicated, but it is unclear whether or not he will get the deal that he wants.
Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors said that Thompson is indeed one of the cornerstones of the Warriors franchise along with Stephen Curry, but he believes that the sharp-shooting guard is not worthy of a max deal.
Myron is convinced that Thompson won't get a max offer from the Warriors or elsewhere, similar to Greg Monroe, who failed to get a lucrative deal this summer despite putting up big numbers for the Detroit Pistons last season.
"The W's do love Klay, but I'm not sure he's quite worthy of the max, either," Myron said in an NBA free agents 2014 rumors interview. "If GMs and scouts picked apart Greg Monroe's game and decided he's not worth the max, and he's a big guy who's consistently put up numbers, I wonder if they'd do the same with Klay."
Thompson, who is coming off productive stint with Team USA in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, averaged 18.4 points to go along with 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game last season.
Bill Duffy, Thompson's agent, said in a recent interview with USA Today that the 24-year-old shooting guard deserves a max deal with the Warriors because he is the best two-way guard in the league.
"I think Klay Thompson right now is the top two-way, two-guard in basketball," Duffy said. "I think when you look at his body of work, when you look at what he accomplished guarding point guards on a regular basis. I think it's pretty clear. "I've been telling him (he's the best two-way shooting guard) for a couple of years now."
Warriors owner Joe Lacob declined to comment on Thompson's contract status, but he insisted that they view the former Washington State standout as a vital part of their franchise.
"We love Klay," Lacob said in the NBA free agents 2014 rumors update. "He is clearly an integral part of our team and our future. I remember sitting courtside at Stanford Pac-12 games watching Klay at (Washington State) for three years. I thought he could be a prototype big shooting guard in the NBA."
