With Klay Thompson Returning...

[xdrta+]

There's still plenty of opportunity for Zion to be the best player in the league in 2 years. I don't see the Pels giving him up for any reasonable offer. It would take a huge overpay to get him IMO and I want no part of that.

The Pelicans front office and its coaching staff are fighting for their jobs.

If Zion walks away from the franchise and does not re-sign with the team, David Griffin is gone. If the team shows not progress towards even getting into the play-in game, Griffin will be on the hot seat. Griffin let Lonzo go and did not draft Darius Garland, both would have fit in well with Ingram and Zion.

Strong franchises have leverage when doing deals with weak franchises. The Warriors might be able to swoop in, give up some redundant and not used assets (Poole and Wiseman) and future draft picks and pick up a distressed asset with huge upside (Zion).

You really think Poole and Wiseman are redundant and will be little used assets by the time Zion is playing? Not to mention meeting his huge upside. Personally, I doubt it. And throwing in future draft picks too.

[SpreeS]

1. Nola will hang up the phone immediately at first.
2. You dont know, how will Klay look. Maybe he is done. Maybe he is 6th man at best. Maybe he is starter caliber, but max 25-30 min player.
3. Curry is 34y and Klay 32y old. They wont play 35min per every game. Kerr will reduce their playing time to 30min, will sit them on B2B and of course injuries will be too, so Poole will get 25-30min per game w/o question.
4. Maybe after one or two years, Poole will be your starter and Klay bench player.

[xdrta+]

Since this is a thread about Klay, this is Imam Shumpert on Klay:

"Klay Thompson does not complain to refs," Shumpert said. "He's not going to do the, 'Oh, ref look at him!' Man, you grab Klay Thompson, you grab hold of him, that man will chop your wrist down so fast. Like, man I love this young, light-skinned dude. This brother don't care man. He's willing to fight me. That's how I felt about Klay Thompson. He is willing to fight me just to get off this screen. He doesn't care. He looked right at the ref and pushed me in my throat ... They called an offensive foul and he just ran back down the court like he don't give a f--k. I'm like I love these dudes."

Watch on YouTube

[Commodor]

Poole, Wiggins & 22’ 1st for Jaylen Brown this summer.

[tarantism]

Is anybody else irrationally hoping that there is a big reveal of Klay returning for the Xmas game coming tomorrow? I know they said early January but man it would be so great.

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[michaelm]

Is anybody else irrationally hoping that there is a big reveal of Klay returning for the Xmas game coming tomorrow? I know they said early January but man it would be so great.

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Have had the same thought, but probably puts too much pressure on Klay given they might need a big performance from him to win given the absentees, and would be at odds with the patience/caution they have shown up till now.

[shazam_guy]

I just want Klay confident about his legs when he steps back on the court. Whenever that is for him, I'll be happy.

[Big J]

Is he gonna suit up tomorrow? The shots of him on the sideline look like he's about fed up with being in street clothes.

[whatisacenter]

Poole, Wiggins & 22’ 1st for Jaylen Brown this summer.

this would have been a yes for me before the season started but no so much now.

[tarantism]

Do you guys think there is hope of Klay being back tomorrow (Monday, vs Miami)? Or will it be vs Cleveland next week?

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[Samurai]

Do you guys think there is hope of Klay being back tomorrow (Monday, vs Miami)? Or will it be vs Cleveland next week?

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My guess is Cleveland. Everything in this process so far has been very cautious so I don't see them changing that up now.

The one thing that could accelerate it to tomorrow is the postponed game in Denver. That gave Klay an unexpected chance to have a 12 minute scrimmage with the first team guys - Steph, Wiggins, etc. - which he has not done yet. This was his first time playing in a 5-on-5 scrimmage with Wiggins. And Klay was hoisting them; Steph said he counted 17 shots from Klay in those 12 minutes and estimates he made "over 50 percent". If the game wasn't postponed at the last minute, they wouldn't have had that opportunity.

[HiRez]

Klay hit 24 3s in a row recently in practice. Now sure, it's tempting to say oh, it's practice, it won't be that easy in a real game with real defenders. But I'm not so sure. First, Klay is 6-6, he doesn't have to jump through the roof to get a shot off. Second, he has one of the quickest releases in the game. Third, he's got ice in his veins, he's not intimidated by defenders coming at him, never has been. Fourth, he's got Steph, Wiggins, GPII, OPJ, Poole, other legit 3 point shooters around him who can't be left alone (and reciprocally, they'll also get even better shots with Klay on the floor). No, I think this cat is going to come out gunning just like he always has and bury teams.

It remains to be seen how his athleticism is and maybe it costs him a step on defense and in transition. But I think he's still going to knock down shots at a high rate, and by extension space the floor even more, and that alone is a massive plus to the team.

[HiRez]

Do you guys think there is hope of Klay being back tomorrow (Monday, vs Miami)? Or will it be vs Cleveland next week?

If this article is correct, it won't be Miami.

Klay Thompson won't return in Warriors' Jan. 3 game vs. Heat

[WarriorGM]

With Wiggins, Porter and Payton in the 40% range and Bjelica close to that from 3 point territory I actually don't see Klay raising the regular season peak performance of the team that much. Where Klay would likely make a difference is in the team's robustness and ability to maintain that peak play longer.

[giberish]

With Wiggins, Porter and Payton in the 40% range and Bjelica close to that from 3 point territory I actually don't see Klay raising the regular season peak performance of the team that much. Where Klay would likely make a difference is in the team's robustness and ability to maintain that peak play longer.

Not all 3 point shooting % numbers are the same. Payton only takes the uncontested ones, when the defense is just daring him to shoot. Wiggins and Porter have normal releases and most of their shots are at least a little bit open (like standard 3-point shooters). Klay's release allows him to get off shots that wouldn't be considered open for standard shooters (and generally not attempted by them) while still making them at a solid rate. This, combined with the amount that he moves around the floor makes defenses give him extra attention even (or especially) when he doesn't have the ball. That just makes life easier for the rest of the offense.

[Commodor]

Poole, Wiggins & 22’ 1st for Jaylen Brown this summer.

this would have been a yes for me before the season started but no so much now.

That is fair.

My primary concern is there has to be a limit to Lacob’s spending eventually. Poole and Wiggins will be up for new contracts soon, as will Dray and Klay. Then after that the young 3. Add on Curry’s mega deal and the price is going to be crazy.

Brown fills the same roles Poole & Wiggins currently fill. Then GSW can continue to develop the young 3 and ride the dynasty 3 out through the end of their career.

Someone has to be on the chopping block eventually. Wiggins & Poole would be my preferred especially if we can get a star wing for half their combined prices.

If Lacob is fine going to $500m for the salary then I’m with you though!

[ShootersShoot]

With Wiggins, Porter and Payton in the 40% range and Bjelica close to that from 3 point territory I actually don't see Klay raising the regular season peak performance of the team that much. Where Klay would likely make a difference is in the team's robustness and ability to maintain that peak play longer.

Not all 3 point shooting % numbers are the same. Payton only takes the uncontested ones, when the defense is just daring him to shoot. Wiggins and Porter have normal releases and most of their shots are at least a little bit open (like standard 3-point shooters). Klay's release allows him to get off shots that wouldn't be considered open for standard shooters (and generally not attempted by them) while still making them at a solid rate. This, combined with the amount that he moves around the floor makes defenses give him extra attention even (or especially) when he doesn't have the ball. That just makes life easier for the rest of the offense.

Never hurts to add an elite shooter to the mix. There's definitely a chance guys like wiggins and payton will go through a cold stretch from three. Klay is a better shooter than all of them which is the crazy thing. We are talking one of the better three point shooters in nba history. He's going to make a difference. Also, we don't know if health protocols or injury will occur and Klay being available would help to keep the train rolling if/when those things happen. Defensively with him is where I'm concerned.

[HiRez]

Poole, Wiggins & 22’ 1st for Jaylen Brown this summer.

this would have been a yes for me before the season started but no so much now.

As much as I like Wiggins and Poole, I'd still do that (assuming it was an offer the Cs would actually be interested in). Dude dropped 50/11/4 last night on 67% shooting, not too many guys in the league who can do that and he's only 25 years old, can easily be one of the faces of the post-Steph/Klay/Draymond Warriors along with Wiseman and Kuminga. Going by EPM, he's top 88th percentile on offense and top 86% on defense. We like 2 way players and he fits the bill. Not sure I see Poole as our point guard of the future so that's still a missing piece either way. But Poole is very good and could get there, I guess I'm just thinking about a more traditional pass-first guard who plays more defense.

[FNQ]

Sunday Sunday Sunday

[giberish]

With Wiggins, Porter and Payton in the 40% range and Bjelica close to that from 3 point territory I actually don't see Klay raising the regular season peak performance of the team that much. Where Klay would likely make a difference is in the team's robustness and ability to maintain that peak play longer.

Not all 3 point shooting % numbers are the same. Payton only takes the uncontested ones, when the defense is just daring him to shoot. Wiggins and Porter have normal releases and most of their shots are at least a little bit open (like standard 3-point shooters). Klay's release allows him to get off shots that wouldn't be considered open for standard shooters (and generally not attempted by them) while still making them at a solid rate. This, combined with the amount that he moves around the floor makes defenses give him extra attention even (or especially) when he doesn't have the ball. That just makes life easier for the rest of the offense.

Never hurts to add an elite shooter to the mix. There's definitely a chance guys like wiggins and payton will go through a cold stretch from three. Klay is a better shooter than all of them which is the crazy thing. We are talking one of the better three point shooters in nba history. He's going to make a difference. Also, we don't know if health protocols or injury will occur and Klay being available would help to keep the train rolling if/when those things happen. Defensively with him is where I'm concerned.

For the short run, I don't see Klay actually helping GS for the first 20-30 games he's back for. It just takes a while for a guy to really get back after missing that much time.

For shooting/spacing issues, my main point is that 3p% isn't directly that important. What's most important is how much opposing defenses fear you taking 3's. While somewhat related to 3p% it certainly isn't identical. No opposing defense fears Payton's 3-point shooting. Meanwhile even after missing 2+ seasons teams will heavily fear Klay.