This past summer saw reigning NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant take a large discount so the Golden State Warriors could retain the core players from their championship squad. It also helped two-time MVP Stephen Curry cash in on a $200-plus million deal himself.
It’s the same quagmire other members of the Warriors will be dealing with here in the not-so-distant future.
Set to become a free agent following the 2018-19 season, three-time All-Star Klay Thompson is seemingly willing to take a pay cut in order to remain with the Warriors and help them keep their title team together. Though, it does come with a bit of a caveat.
“I probably could, yeah. That much? I don’t know. I don’t make as much as Kevin off the court,” Thompson said when asked whether he would take a pay cut, via The Athletic. ““If it’s a few million … It’s a blessing whatever contract I sign. I would definitely consider it cause I don’t want to lose anybody.”
The caveat there obviously being Kevin Durant and his decision to take nearly $10 million less than the max on what will amount to being a one-year, $25 million contract.
Durant obviously has a ton of endorsement opportunities. Though, Klay himself just signed an absurd shoe deal during a recent summer visit to China (more on that here).
Needless to say, it seems rather clear that Warriors stars are more than willing to take less in order to keep a potential dynasty together. Thompson himself is no different.