Why Golden State Should Add Rookie Klay Thompson in Rebuilding Plans

The Golden State Warriors are in the process of evaluating their roster to see who will return to the team next season and who could end up as potential trade possibilities.

Center Andrew Bogut is also expected to make his debut next season after being acquired in March for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown.

The Warriors are looking to start a new era with Bogut and Stephen Curry being the main pieces, although there could very well be another young player added to that list.

That player is rookie shooting guard/small forward Klay Thompson, who was drafted in the first round after spending three years playing college basketball at Washington State University.

The Warriors are not going to qualify for the playoffs this season under first-year head coach Mark Jackson but hope to make moves that will allow them to do so sooner rather than later.

Thompson comes from a family with “basketball genes.” His dad, big man Mychal Thompson, was a former No. 1 overall draft pick, and his older brother, Mychel, spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season.

Klay has been able to bring his steady shooting ability and has found a role with the Warriors that is expected to only get bigger as time goes forward.

Injuries have been a large part as to why Thompson has been receiving steady playing time. Stephen Curry has missed time dealing with his ankle woes, so Thompson has been asked to fill in.

He has been averaging 11.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in 61 games played (including 24 starts).

It will be interesting to see what a combination of Thompson, Stephen Curry, David Lee and Andrew Bogut can bring to the table in Golden State.

However, it appears that the health status of Bogut and Curry will determine a large part of that success.