Kerr admits Klay’s mid-season signings signaled his departure from Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The writing may have been on the wall for Klay Thompson and the Warriors for the 2023-24 NBA season.
During the trials and tribulations of last season, it became clear to coach Steve Kerr and the team that Thompson, a soon-to-be free agent, might be open to a change of scenery this offseason before ultimately signing a three-year, $50 million contract. contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
“Yes, there were signs,” Kerr told Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard on the last episode of “The TK Show”. “Obviously none of us knew what was going to happen, we all wanted him to stay. I wanted Klay to be a warrior for life, it seemed like the right thing to do. But you never really know what’s right for someone else, only that person knows. And I think by the end of the year, I think Klay knew for himself that he wanted to leave.
“I’m happy for him, I think it’s going to be a good move. He’s going to play for a great team, two top creators (Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving), he should have a lot of open shots. I think sometimes a career change, a late-career change, can refresh you and recharge you.”
Kerr admits Thompson’s two career-altering lower leg injuries — a torn ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals and a torn Achilles tendon in the fall of 2020 — have continued to take a mental toll on the Warriors sharpshooter, even two years after he returned to the court in January 2022.
“I hope Klay can get through his injuries psychologically and emotionally, which has been a tough task for him here, frankly,” Kerr said. “So I think a fresh start is a good thing for him.”
Kerr believes Thompson’s departure, while dark for the Warriors and Dub Nation and another sign that Golden State’s dynasty is nearing its end, could open the doors to other exciting roster opportunities this season.
“I think it could be good for us, we’re going to have to fill the void that he left,” Kerr added. “But as long as we approach the game in a positive way. Hey, there’s playing time and there’s also an opportunity to play a little bit differently, do some different things and learn some things about our team, those are exciting factors that our fans will appreciate.”
Thompson, statistically, had one of the worst seasons of his illustrious career, averaging 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game on 43.2 percent shooting and 38.7 percent from 3-point range while bouncing between the starting lineup and the bench in 77 games played.
While there’s an argument to be made that the Warriors’ current roster is better now than it was last season with the addition of versatile veteran depth pieces in place of an aging Thompson commanding nearly 30 minutes per game, Kerr and the team certainly wish the franchise legend could play out the remainder of his Hall of Fame career in the Bay Area.
