THE PRICE OF GREATNESS 💸 Stephen A. floats Klay Thompson to 76ers & Knicks | First Take

THE PRICE OF GREATNESS 💸 Stephen A. floats Klay Thompson to 76ers & Knicks | First Take

back to the NBA Klay Thompson’s numbers down nearly across the board last season prompting Steve cerr to bring him off the bench for the first time since his rookie year with Clay’s future in question with the team he suspiciously unfollowed the warriors on social media and we have people here that notice things like that but Draymond Green doesn’t seem concerned about his teammates online activity I think it’s hilarious just so y’all know I laugh when Jack I logged on here and Jackson’s like yo so what about clay I’m like what like what happened it’s like oh yeah unfollow the Warriors I think that’s comical um I know you all be wondering like somebody feelings to be heard or something it ain’t that ain’t never going to be that that’s hilarious okay sometimes I feel embarrassed that I have to report certain things but here’s where we are and I could say this Wendy with Instagram you could always mute someone right so if you don’t want to see their feed you don’t want to but you clearly want to make it public when you unfollow them so do you think this is something or nothing okay it is something because it’s a contract negotiation yes it doesn’t mean that he is no no longer wants to be with the Warriors doesn’t mean that he’ll never resign with them it just means that we are now at the serious stage now here’s here’s what I want to tell everybody this rule is brand new I’m still learning this Rule and comprehending it once the finals ends which could be tonight teams are allowed to to negotiate and come to terms with their own free agents so one of the things we always saw in the past real quick July 1st would hit and all of a sudden all these contracts would get done he like how’ they get done in five minutes because this was going on now they can get negotiated and done so I would expect if the finals end tonight in the next two or three days we’re going to see a bunch of people come to contract terms Pascal sakam I don’t think he’s going anywhere I think he’s staying in in uh with the Pacers Tyrese Maxi I don’t think he’s going anywhere he’ll come to terms with the 76ers there’s a couple other obvious deals but there’s a there’s a couple that we’re going to watch Klay Thompson will be in that spot if he doesn’t come to terms with the warriors with the with the exclusive negotiating here it could mean that that he wants to look at someplace else and that’s what this is It’s and I want to say this it’s not just about the actual dollars it’s also about the respect that clay wants to be paid now he and we just saw those numbers 18 points a game 39% from three-point range that’s a valuable player yes that player is a $20 million player in today’s NBA under certain circumstances maybe even more but the thing with Clay won’t just necessarily be the money it will also be the years how many years would you be willing to give and the role they’ve got young players who play his position Brandon psky Moses Moody clay got benched at the end of some games last year what’s his role going to be all of those things come into play and what role is he comfortable playing right now in his care absolutely absolutely so what I would say is just because he did this doesn’t mean that he’s leaving but it does mean that we’re on brass tax and it’s going to get a little bit Rocky I think Klay Thompson is a future Hall of Fame four time NBA champ he’s one of the greatest Shooters the game has ever seen yes and his definition of a Down year 39% shooting from three-point range uh 90 plus per of the league would pray to be able to do that this man spent nine of his first 10 years in the NBA shooting better than 40% from three-point range so understand that the price of greatness is what we’re witnessing right now because when you’re that great of a shooter as he was the slightest dissipation is noticeable because you simply aren’t what you used to be even though you’re still better than most instead of people embracing the concept that you’re better than most instead they’re saying you’re not what you used to be so that’s the frustration that clay has dealt with let’s not also forget that even though Golden State paid him when he was injured if you recall years ago we cost him a super max deal not me because I voted for him but Kimbell Walker got third Team all NBA and he was kept off of the third of the all NBA team that cost Klay Thompson over $30 million I don’t blame Klay Thompson he never spoke to the media again after that they cost him $30 million they C the media cost him $30 million because they didn’t vote him onto an all NBA team so we got to remember that now we got to also be fair when we’re looking at him now 34 years of age came off the bench for the first time in his career averaged 19.8 points on 42.8% shooting on three pointers in his 14 games as a reserve let’s not forget that also ranked second on the team in points per game after the All-Star break shooting 45% from the field 41.2% on three-pointers so his numbers while it’s under 40 it wasn’t under 40 the second half of the season after All-Star break so let’s remember that these are all arguments that favor Klay Thompson here’s the problem the way he and Steph used to flow off of one another with a me a measure of unparalleled consistency was not what occurred last year it was up one game down another up one game down another if I’m Klay Thompson and he’s watching I’m thinking about New York because you need a shoot I’m thinking about Philly because you got embiid and Maxi and imagine what you would do there those are two teams that really really really come to my mind there could be others but definitely those you think New York or Philly would want well I think New York should make no mistake about it I think Philly should want him if embiid is healthy if embiid is not healthy and it’s him and Maxi that’s a different argument but the New York Knicks with the way they play defense and with the way that Tom tho coaches them I think to have a sniper a sharpshooter out there that can shoot like that oh you got I mean that’s a huge huge plus but this is the other point that I wanted to make about Golden State because I’m gonna come to Joe lups defense here I’m looking at these numbers guys him and his ownership group have spent $677 million in penalties and have been in the tax four out of the past six seasons the man has spent the money he’s made the investment and it’s been in those players so let me be very clear to everybody out there the Golden State Warriors ownership doesn’t owe clay or anybody else anything you appreciate what they’ve done but they didn’t play for free and two years basically that clay was out they paid him those years too and so we have to remember that and understand that moving forward I hope it works out but I don’t see it because Klay Thompson is worth more than two years and $60 million Klay Thompson is worth at least double that triple that as far as I’m concerned but it’s got to be under the right situation and the roster is presently constructed is no longer the ideal situation for Klay Thompson two questions before we go to break is he still a star yes and yes and what do you think of Philly and New York or do you think there’s a better fit I mean I think it would depend I mean I like Paul George as a fit better on Philadelphia yeah and the one question Philadelphia or New York I like Paul George is better fit on Philly okay not New York not as much yeah because he dribbles yes and Klay catches and shoots so I think New York would be better for clay Paul the one question I would have for for Nicks and I I hear that but like the the defensive aspect for how tibs also likes to defend but you have gaps right between Jos and Clay is not a slouchy def he hasn’t he isn’t what he used to be well the Knicks couldn’t make that deal unless was a sign in trade or unless they cleared out like said goodbye to O anobi and cut buan bogdanovich you passed by Orlando Orlando’s fast I jumped on Orlando I’m not sure that clay wants to go to Orlando but Orlando cannot score out of the back court they he would have an instantaneous giant roll take as many shots as he could get and they have huge money and they’ve got young pieces and they finished fifth in the East last year Well in a in a perfect world clay would love to be in Los Angeles we all know that I’m talking about the Lakers yeah I mean could you imagine no space no space they can’t do it but that’s where he’d love to be but I’d say learn the like New York all right learn to like New York [Music]

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Brian Windhorst and Jay Williams analyze what’s next for Klay Thompson ahead of free agency after unfollowing the Golden State Warriors on social media.

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