Klay Thompson Extension Will Keep Stephen Curry with Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors' max extension for Klay Thompson was a big move on its own, but its value as a message to franchise cornerstone Stephen Curry was even bigger.
While the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs (among others) took a cautious approach at the Oct. 31 deadline, deigning to lock up rising stars Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard with lucrative deals, the Dubs dove in. Thompson signed his extension with mere hours to spare, becoming $70 million richer and standing as a symbol Golden State wouldn't let a dime hold up a dollar.
Curry noticed, as he told reporters, via Diamond Leung of IBABuzz.com.
"That’s a big statement for sure...They’re committed to putting together the roster that they feel is capable of winning a championship and doing whatever it takes to maintain that. Obviously I don’t know what the situation will be in two years (when his contract expires at the end of the 2016-17 season). The direction that we’re headed is definitely promising for sure.
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It's true what Curry says—the Warriors made a big statement in maxing out Thompson and avoiding restricted free agency. But it wasn't a reckless move by any stretch. Thompson is unique in his two-way play, a flat-out elite shooter who is developing into one of the better perimeter stoppers in the league.
Since signing the contract, he's done nothing but justify it. Thompson has been on fire in his first three games, scoring 29.7 points per contest and playing with boundless confidence. Where there was once only catch and shoot, there is now also drive and smash:
And the more Thompson blossoms, buoyed by his hefty raise, the likelier Curry is to stick around when his own free agency arrives three years from now.
Why?
Well, for starters, Curry is a Klay fan. He spent the days leading up to the extension deadline lobbying for his backcourt partner.
Curry is the NBA's golden boy, so it's easy to view his pro-Thompson agenda as pure magnanimity. But there's an element of justifiable self-interest at play here, too.
Because Thompson makes Curry better.
By taking on the toughest perimeter matchups, Klay allows his slight-of-frame point guard to avoid foul trouble and save energy for his mammoth offensive responsibilities. Thompson's gravity also prevents defenders from overloading Curry's side of the floor too aggressively, and as Curry continues to improve as a rim-attacker, Thompson will only become more valuable.
Leaving Thompson to help on middle penetration is basically a defensive death sentence.
Thompson just fits with Curry, and even if you don't watch enough to really appreciate the way he complements his teammate, the numbers paint a clear objective picture: Curry thrives with Thompson on the floor.
| Curry with Thompson | 111.3 | 100.3 | +11.0 | 2.41 | .567 |
| Curry without Thompson | 101.7 | 100.1 | +1.6 | 1.64 | .561 |
This is all near-term, on-court stuff, though. The Thompson extension's biggest impact on Curry is as a long-game maneuver.
Bridge to the Future
Thompson is the only current Warrior who'll be under contract when Curry hits free agency after the 2016-17 season. Golden State will sign, draft and trade for players to fill out the roster between now and then, but from Curry's perspective, those moves represent unknown commodities.
With Thompson locked up, Curry can look ahead to free agency and see a key point of stability; Klay will be there.
The overall message, the "big statement" Curry referred to earlier, also can't be discounted. Curry has now seen that the Dubs will pay what it takes to keep the team's core together, to assure he'll always have the help he needs.
It's difficult to overstate how vital it was for the Warriors to appease Curry by keeping a player he liked, especially after they ignored his very public support for since-canned head coach Mark Jackson.
As much as anything, keeping Thompson was a clear signal to Curry that his opinion carries weight. It was a reminder that needed serving.
And as other free agents notice the Warriors refusing to skimp on extensions, maybe Curry will see more big names looking to come aboard in the future.
Curry now knows that when he's due for his own pay day, he'll get what he's owed. That's especially important for him, because he's certainly not getting what he's worth now. When he signed his four-year, $44 million extension in 2012, he did so at a time when his value was marred by injury and his long-term health was almost impossible to rely on.
Five ankle sprains, leading to two surgeries in less than a year, made Curry a risky investment. All he's done since then is stay healthy and develop into one of the game's elite talents. Yet he's now the fifth-highest-paid player on his own team.
The Warriors know they'll have to remedy that situation at their first opportunity.
Truthfully, a max contract offered the very second he hits free agency in 2017 is the main thing that'll keep Curry in a Warriors jersey for the long haul. And the way the Dubs just treated Thompson shows that'll be no problem at all.
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