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Klay Thompson has maintained for a long time that he would re-sign with the Golden State Warriors upon becoming a free agent.
With the season ending last night, Thompson has now reached that point. And the way it ended - with a gut-wrenching loss and an ACL tear for the five-time All-Star - certainly stirred up a lot of emotions.
Amid all the noise, craziness, and uncertainty, it’s comforting to have a reminder that some things will stay the same. And thankfully Mychal Thompson - Klay’s father - provided that.
In the aftermath of the loss, Mychal, a former NBA player, said that there’s “no question” that Klay will be back in the Bay Area next season.
Just spoke with Klay Thompson's father, Mychal, who said there's "no question" Klay will re-sign with the Warriors. Golden State is expected to still offer him a full five-year maximum deal.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) June 14, 2019
Reports have suggested that the Warriors will still offer max contracts to both Klay and Kevin Durant, who suffered a torn Achilles in Game 5. That’s the smart thing to do, both from a business sense and an ethical sense.
Mychal couldn’t speak on what the Warriors would offer, and instead deferred to majority shareholder Joe Lacob. But Mychal did suggest that the two sides will be on the same page.
Connected with Mychal Thompson about Klay and his injury. Mycahl said he's holding up well given the circumstances. As far as how this affects Klay's free agency? Mychal: "You have to ask Joe Lacob that one. That's up to the Warriors. But Klay will be back."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) June 14, 2019
The elder Thompson - who was by Klay’s side in the immediate aftermath of the injury, and accompanied his son to the locker room, and, later, the hospital - had a more emotional response on Instagram. In a post with a picture of Klay and Durant, Mychal noted that, “All the bs they went through this year, know they comin back stronger then ever!!!”
Free agency is just two and a half weeks away. Thompson’s free agency will likely be handled quickly. We’ll have to wait and see about Durant’s.
In the meantime, hopefully both are getting some much-needed rest as they recuperate from the long season, and prepare for their long rehabilitations.