Warrior's star is allegedly eying a recent Boston Celtics' extension

Boston Celtics fans are awfully familiar with Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson. The future Hall of Famer earned his fourth ring in 2022 at Boston's expense, doing just enough in the Finals to push his squad over the edge. Those prosperous times suddenly seem like a distant past. 

Thompson is coming off his worst season in over a decade. His plethora of knee injuries have hindered his quickness, making the once-stifling defender a liability on that side of the floor. The shotmaking looks decent in the box score, but the volatility is extreme. His passing and offensive creation have never been exemplary, and now it seems he's more limited than ever. 

This is the worst time for Thompson to fall apart by the seams as he prepares to hit free agency in the summer. His impending contract will surely be nowhere near the maximum deals he signed in his prime. Zach Lowe suggested in his recent contract that Klay might see his value differently than consensus would suggest. 

"Klay is going to draw interest around the league," Lowe said. "He’s going to want a fair salary. I can tell you for sure, both sides took note of that Jrue Holiday's extension with the Celtics, which was four years and 135 million."

Klay's next deal won't resemble Jrue Holiday's Boston Celtics extension

I don't blame Thompson for hoping to have one last major payday. His contributions to the game are undeniable, and he's a pillar of 2010's hoops. Unfortunately, in sports, you don't get paid for past performances.

Jrue Holiday is the defensive centerpiece of the best team in basketball. His counting stats might not raise eyebrows, but that's a testament to his sacrifice. He was an All-Star last season and the Milwaukee Bucks' primary ball handler. Holiday's ability to put his ego aside and defer to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown while flipping the switch and being a spark plug when needed makes Him so special. He's not only going to make an All-Defensive team but has solidified himself as an elite teammate. 

Thompson has a winning pedigree, which could be useful for an inexperienced squad trying to advance to championship contention. With the salary cap likely to rise once the league solidifies its next media rights deal, giving Thompson a lucrative short-term deal to mentor younger talent could be a solid investment. 

The Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs have money to spend and, in a weak free agency class, don't have many options. The Magic have been starving for outside shooting around Paolo Banchero, and their rebuild has moved at an expedited pace. Victor Wembanyama exceeded the loftiest expectations, and the Spurs need more competent players. 

Thompson could be the beneficiary of circumstance, but it won't be near the valuation of Holiday's extension. If he finally leaves the Bay, expect a two-year deal with a club option for around $55 million.