Golden State Warriors: Give Klay Thompson the Max Now

The Golden State Warriors need to give Klay Thompson a maximum contract, and get it over with.

There’s only two questions that should arise with Bob Myers and Steve Kerr when pondering the amount of Klay Thompson’s looming extension — specifically the size of it. Myers and Kerr must ask themselves, if we lose Thompson, can we replace him, and how much would it cost to do so?

More from Hoops Habit

• The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout

The stigma that a max contract carries is unfair to players who actually deserve it. Throughout NBA history it’s been earned, given to those who are undeserving, has created lethargy and inspired some to raise their game to the next level. More over, the idea of a max contract is fallible to begin with. As basketball related income rises and new talent enters the league the scale of which the max contracts sits is lengthened. That’s not to say the idea of a cap on a player’s salary is a wash. Only that there’s no monetary figure that serves as an exact indication to a how much a franchise values their players. There’s no set amount franchises can extend that shows their most prized athletes how vital they are to the present and future of the team.

Insert Thompson, widely considered to be one of the top five shooting guards in the league, consummate work horse and new owner of a gold medal.

Giving Thompson the max right now doesn’t get in the way of any future plans for Golden State, and it isn’t giving in to the far fetched claims that Thompson’s agent Bill Duffy said to USA Today’s Sam Amick. Let’s not make a mountain of a mole hill should be the thought in the Warriors front office. In a league where undeserving players are inking max deals every season, to come across a young player with max value to his team and untapped potential is deserving of a long-term deal. And these days, potential and promise dictate what a player is worth, not only his play on the court.

Bob Myers understands how important Thompson is to their future plans. He recently expressed his interest in keeping Klay around to Diamond Leung of the San Jose Mercury News. Myers commented,

"“We value him in the highest way, and we want to keep him on this team for a long time. He’s just laser-focused. When you watch him play defense, when you watch him shoot, I’m not sure much knocks him off his center, and that’s a tribute to his intensity and competitiveness. Certain people are built that way where you just point them in the direction, and they go. So I don’t particularly worry about his mind-set approaching the season.”"

Myers definitely has a good read on what pushes Thompson and his mindset. Already growing into one of the hardest working and focused young guards in the NBA, Thompson should be awarded for his contributions on the court and  how he handles himself off of it. He’s been known as a gym-rat at times where players are partying, and while he’s playing as one of the top-five shooting guards in the league, he has the desire to be number one. That type of drive is invaluable, especially in a league where so many guys get complacent and ask their agent to do the job their trainer should.

It’s enough that Thompson put up 18.4 points per game in the previous season, shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 41.7 from three. What’s encouraging is that his numbers from last season are a slight step up from his career averages of 43.5 percent in field goals shooting and 41 percent from deep. He’s not just effective, he’s getting better.

A max contract can do one of two things to a player. Give him confidence or make him complacent. Given Thompson’s work ethic and interest in soaking up the NBA game, It’s safe to say he’ll only gain confidence in his abilities and security in knowing he’s with the right team. There’s nothing to be gained in allowing the market to set the price tag for his skills. Thompson isn’t easily replaced, and if you have no intent of letting him go, do the right thing. The Warriors must show Thompson the same amount of commitment he’s showing them. It’s simple, no need to make this a complex process.