Dub Hub: Steve Kerr wants Klay Thompson back on the Warriors

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, June 26th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steve Kerr makes it known that the team really wants Klay Thompson back during an interview on The Jim Rome Show.
• Warriors reportedly one of the teams willing to give Clippers’ Paul George a max contract if they trade for him, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
• The Knicks trade multiple future draft picks in blockbuster deal for Nets’ star Mikal Bridges.

In the buzz of NBA free agency buzz, all eyes are fixed on the Golden State Warriors’ sharpshooter, Klay Thompson. While the lack of an offer has reportedly created tension on Thompson’s side of the negotiations, the team has tried their best in recent days to smooth the situation by making it known they want the five-time All-Star back for next season.

General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., during his pre-draft presser, voiced his desire for Thompson’s return. Meanwhile, head coach Steve Kerr, echoed this sentiment during an interview on The Jim Rome Show, emphasizing his eagerness to have the franchise legend playing for the Warriors once again.

It’s important to note that although this may be true that the Warriors want Thompson to return, he may not be the team’s first priority this offseason, as outline by Tim Kawakami’s latest article from The Athletic. Golden State must first see if they can improve the team by trading Chris Paul’s $30 million non-guaranteed contract. If they find a trade they like, then the possibility of re-signing Thompson becomes slim, due to the second apron restrictions of the new CBA. However, if they were to ultimately just waive Paul’s money, then that could free them up to offer a contract more appealing to Thompson.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, June 26th:

Warriors News:

Steve Kerr on Klay Thompson’s free agency: “We really want him back“

Warriors’ Mike Dunleavy Jr. plots a reasoned offseason that might not include Klay Thompson | The Athletic

The underlying point is that Dunleavy likely has decided that he can’t lock himself into anything with Klay until he knows whether he can trade Paul, whose $30 million contract for next season must be guaranteed by Friday or he’ll become a free agent himself (unless the Warriors and CP3 agree to push the deadline back into July to give both sides a chance to gather more information). For instance: What if the Warriors can acquire a great shooter for CP3’s contract? Then they probably wouldn’t have much to spend on Klay and might not have a lot of minutes to give him, either.

The Warriors have priorities heading into the start of the free-agency period next week and, to be relatively blunt, it’s pretty clear that Klay isn’t first on that list. Or second.

Dunleavy isn’t saying that he’s ready to let Klay go. But he’s definitely not shaping this whole offseason just to make sure that Klay stays.

Report: Warriors willing to give Paul George desired max contract | NBC Sports Bay Area

But Windhorst claimed some teams are willing to give the max that he desires — including the Warriors.

“He wants a full-out max. And there are a number of teams out there, I am told, that are prepared to give it to him, or are prepared to trade for him,” Windhorst said. “One of those teams potentially is up the coast in Golden State. Golden State is big-fish hunting. Remember, last trade deadline, they put a call in about LeBron James. They are sniffing around big deals.

“If Paul George is willing to leave, they would like to be an option for him.”

From unknown prospect to Warriors NBA draft workout: The Langston Terry story | NBC Sports Bay Area

The hard times, as Langston says, eventually will end. Life is a love story. Obstacles are required.

“Go get it,” his mother, Jessica, sums up. “That’s what I tell him before anything he’s about to do. Before the workout with the Warriors, before anything. I tell him, ‘Believe in yourself. You know what to do, go get it. Go kill it, go do it.’

“Nobody’s going to make it happen but you. It’ll work out like it’s supposed to. I believe that.”

Warriors celebrate the 15th anniversary of Steph Curry’s draft selection

NBA News:

Sources: Knicks trade for Mikal Bridges as Nets load up on picks | ESPN

The Nets were listening to offers from several teams on Bridges, but his desire to play with his three former Villanova teammates on a championship contender — and the Knicks’ confidence they could keep him long term — gave New York the confidence to finally unload its array of draft picks into a major trade, sources said.

Nets general manager Sean Marks and Knicks president Leon Rose escalated discussions quickly Tuesday afternoon and evening, and New York ultimately overwhelmed the marketplace with four unprotected first-rounders (2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031), a protected 2025 first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks, the Knicks’ unprotected 2028 pick swap and a 2025 Brooklyn second-round selection, sources said.

Final 2024 NBA mock draft: Why we’re expecting an unpredictable night | The Athletic

None of the league sources The Athletic has consulted seems to have any certainty on what the Hawks will do on draft night still at No. 1. Donovan Clingan was the name linked with the Hawks most often last week, with many league sources noting the Connecticut big man might fit better as a potential trade-down target. However, since Risacher’s workout in Atlanta last week, his name has been raised increasingly often in conversations around the league.

Alexandre Sarr’s name occasionally comes up as well, but that could be an attempt to convince a trade up from Washington, the team most often linked with Sarr. Of course, that same logic could apply to any prospect; if other teams sense some doubt the player they want will be available — be it Risacher, Clingan or Sarr — they may be more apt to reach out to gauge Atlanta’s price for dealing the No. 1 pick. I have Risacher for now if Atlanta keeps No. 1, but things remain fluid.

Rockets positioning themselves to make a move for either Kevin Durant or Devin Booker, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Will the Warriors trade into the first round?

So might we see the Warriors trade into the first round at some point on Wednesday? I’m sure it’s something they’re looking at, but I wouldn’t count on it happening. Teams aren’t exactly keen on giving up first-round picks, and Golden State doesn’t have much to offer outside of those aforementioned former first-rounders — plus Trayce Jackson-Davis — and I think it’s safe to say that the Dubs aren’t looking to unload those players for a non-elite rookie.

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