» THOMPSON MISSES OUT ON POSSIBLE PAYDAY
OAKLAND — Klay Thompson rarely complains about his numbers. Yet, the Warriors’ unassuming star could not help but convey his annoyance both with words and body language over not being named on an All-NBA team.
First, Thompson rolled his eyes when informed that Charlotte guard Kemba Walker made the All-NBA third team over him. Then, Thompson questioned his exclusion, which will cost him an extra $30 million he could have earned as a free agent this summer.
“I can’t control it. But do I think there’s that many guards in the league better than me? No,” Thompson said. “But that’s a reason why we’re still playing. So I don’t really want to get into it honestly.”
The NBA hasn’t released its salary cap yet, but Thompson could’ve landed a socalled “supermax” deal that would be for five years and expected to be worth around $220 million if he re-signs with the Warriors this summer. Because of the exclusion on the All-NBA teams, Thompson can sign up to a five-year deal expected to be worth around $190 million. The Warriors are expected to give the max contract he expects, but salary cap rules prohibit the Warriors from offering anything more.
Yet, Thompson insisted he can deal with that reality for a simple reason. “Rings,” he said.
Thompson has three of them in the past four years. He might collect another one when the Warriors play either the Milwaukee Bucks or Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals beginning on May 30. Even though Thompson had two significant shooting slumps on an All-Star laden team this season, he still averaged 21.5 points while shooting 46.7% from the field and 40.2% from 3.
That might not be enough to compete for a spot on the All-NBA’s first team over Stephen Curry and James Harden. Maybe not enough to solidify a spot on the All-NBA’s second team over Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving. Isn’t that enough, though, for Thompson to land on the All-NBA’s third team instead of Russell Westbrook or Walker?
Instead, a panel of select sportswriters and broadcasters voted for Westbrook (178 points) and Walker (51 points) over Thompson (27). He had three secondteam votes and 18 third-team votes for 27 points, which was seven points less than Wizards guard Bradley Beal, who also fell short.
“That’s cool and all, but when you go to five straight Finals...” Thompson said trailing off. “I respect those guys, but when you go to five straight, it takes more than just a couple of All-NBA guys. I’m on an all-time team. But whatever. I’d rather win a championship than be on All-NBA.”
Interestingly, the Warriors could benefit from Thompson’s exclusion on an AllNBA team. The Warriors will save about $30 million in salary and an additional $120 million in luxury taxes. With the Warriors only allowed to have up to two players on supermax contracts, they no longer have to make some potentially tough financial decisions with their star players.
Curry signed a five-year, $221 million contract in the 2017 offseason. Kevin Durant, who landed on the All-NBA second team, was already eligible for a supermax deal based on making an All-NBA team the past two years.
Had Thompson been an All-NBA player, the Warriors couldn’t have offered him a supermax contract unless Durant chose to decline their supermax offer of $221 million.
Thompson’s exclusion could also help Draymond Green’s chances to land a supermax contract. Green, who is a free agent after next season, could qualify by winning Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career or by making the All-NBA team. Green, however, received no votes in what was generally regarded as a down season for him until he re-energized the Warriors in the postseason.
Thompson’s day was not completely ruined. For the first time in his eightyear NBA career, Thompson landed on the NBA’s All-Defensive Second team. Green argued “he should’ve been first,” but Thompson felt content after he admitted feeling excluded in recent seasons.
“I’m very grateful to be recognized. Huge honor and some motivation to keep going and hopefully be on the first team one day,” Thompson said. “It was hard work and I was happy to make it.”
After all, Thompson remains both an offensive focal point along with Curry and Durant, while often defending the team’s best perimeter player. Warriors coach Steve Kerr also marveled at Thompson’s ability to switch onto big men. And he did this while averaging a team-leading 34 minutes per game in 78 games this season. According to NBA.com’s tracking data, Thompson ranks second among NBA players in the postseason in miles traveled per game (2.9). Thompson ranked 20th in the regular season in miles per game (2.54).
When you factor in what he does offensively, he probably covers more ground than anybody in the league,” Kerr said. “The guy is a machine. It’s incredible how he moves offensively and pursues his man defensively.”
All of which made Thompson dumbfounded and annoyed he did not make an All-NBA team. It might cost him $30 million, but he plans to channel that frustration into collecting another championship, something he considers more valuable despite not having a price tag.