Golden State Warriors: They finally lost a championship…now what?

If Klay Thompson leaves

Thompson’s departure would hurt, causing longtime Golden State fans even more heartache than Durant’s exit would inflict. This five-year dynasty was started, in part, by Thompson, who was in uniform before the golden days. Drafted in 2011, he quickly joined forces with Curry to create the infamous “Splash Brothers” pairing.

It was Steph and Klay who built this franchise up, rising in 2013 with a first round upset over the 3-seeded Denver Nuggets. As the duo progressed, they somehow remained humbler than the average NBA superstar. The standard chemistry issues eluded them, because each had genuine consideration for the other. Anyone else feeling the waterworks yet?

If Thompson leaves town, he deserves nothing less than a wild standing ovation upon his return to the Bay Area. Now that he is injured, however, there’s a far greater chance he remains with Golden State. Unlike Durant, he might not be capable of commanding a max contract while on the shelf.

His absence, whether he re-signs or not, will leave a huge hole on both sides of the ball. Golden State, although strapped with limited cap flexibility, could seek other shooters via free agency. Players like Trevor Ariza or Danny Green may be a possibility.

Nonetheless, a squad with Curry and Klay could still be favored come Finals time. Perhaps Durant will be healthy by the playoffs, which would give the team a huge boost. The duo of MVP-candidates has proven either can carry weight in the postseason. Assuming both remain healthy in the coming years, the Dubs should continue the dynasty throughout the contracts of each.