SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy on Thursday joined the club founded two days earlier by Steve Kerr, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry.
The “Keep Klay Thompson Club,” with the idea of retaining the core of four-time NBA Finals champions, currently has four key members among Golden State's decision-makers.
“Well, considering they won four games; [championships] In the past, I think that was well within reason,” Dunleavy said. “But first and foremost, we want Klay back. I told him that yesterday. Our players have expressed that, the coaches, the front office, the ownership.
“Look, everyone wants Clay back.”
Thompson, 34, will become an unrestricted free agent in July. Drafted by the Warriors in 2011, he has spent his entire career sharing the backcourt with Curry, the team's longtime franchise player.
However, while Thompson is open to shopping on the market, there have been indications that he wants to remain with the Warriors, and there has been considerable speculation since then.
Not only is the GM in favor of Klay's return, he feels optimistic about getting it done.
“I think it’s a mutual feeling,” Dunleavy said. “That guy's been here a long time. He means a lot to the organization. We really, really value him. So I hope he wants to go somewhere else. There's nothing wrong with that and we don't want him to come back, so we're hopeful that we can make that happen.”
“But it's a deal. Both sides have to make it work. And we'll work it out.”
Coach Kerr expressed a similar desire Tuesday night, shortly after Golden State lost to the Kings in Sacramento in the season-ending play-in tournament. A few minutes later, Green took to the podium with the same hopes. Curry, the last Warriors player to speak, also spoke.
One thing is for sure: big roster decisions like this one will ultimately be made by Warriors CEO Joe Lacob and Dunleavy.
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