Klay Thompson is not a happy man. The guard was hoping to spend this offseason signing a new contract and competing with Team USA. Instead, he spent the offseason dealing with trade rumors as the Golden State Warriors attempted to make a deal for Kevin Love. The Warriors were highly considering adding Thompson in the trade package, but backed out in the end. The idea still stings Thompson.
Thompson is not headed anywhere this offseason. On Saturday a three-team deal between the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers will be finalized and Thompson is not at all involved in it. However, that does not mean he is happy about it. According to Ric Bucher o Bleacher Report, Thompson is angry that the Warriors came close to trading him for the forward. Prior to James announcing his departure from the Miami Heat, the Warriors were thought to be in the lead to land Love in a trade, but in the end they took Thompson off the table and lost the deal.
According to Bucher, Thompson is angry his name ever came up in negotiations for Love. Golden State was considering packaging him with David Lee and the shooting guard is upset considering how many times the Warriors noted how valuable he was to the team. Now, Thompson wants to see that in dollar signs as the guard is eligible for a new contract and is seeking a max deal.
General manager Bob Myers tried to remain tight lipped about Golden State's intentions for a trade with Love, but that silence and denial only resulted in the angering of two of the team's best assets.
"Right now, I think it's unlikely," Myers told the San Francisco Chronicle at the time. "Right now, today. ... But I will say this: If you asked me last year at this time would we be in a situation to grab an [Andre] Iguodala, I would have said the same thing."
The Warriors must now figure out the exact route to take with Thompson. He and Curry make up one of the better backcourts in the league, but many believe the pairing hurts both players from reaching their full potential. Since they missed out on Love, the Warriors are in no position to let Thompson go, but will they pay him his money? Already upset, if Golden State shows hesitation, it will be Thompson the one demanding a trade.
