STATELINE, Nev. — Charles Barkley, who was often critical of the Warriors when they were at their peak, is now covering them with dirt while simultaneously suggesting that Klay Thompson’s departure was the best outcome for both parties.
Shortly after we arrived Thursday morning at Edgewood Tahoe for American Celebrity Championship of the CenturyBarkley spent a few minutes discussing Thompson’s exit and the Warriors’ situation with NBC Sports Bay Area.
“They were going to make a business decision,” Barkley said of the Warriors’ divorce from Thompson. “They weren’t going to pay him more than he was due, so he got a good deal in Dallas and I hope things work out for him. He’s a good guy, a future Hall of Famer. But they were going to move on.”
“When players grow up, you don’t have to pay them what they used to be.”
Thompson, 34, has struggled to accept the loss of his star status after serious injuries in successive years, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in June 2019 and tearing the Achilles tendon in his right leg in November 2020. After missing two full seasons and another half, he was a key contributor but no longer a star.
It became clear in the weeks leading up to free agency opening on June 30 that the Warriors were already prepared to move on without Thompson, the five-time All-Star guard who has been a mainstay since Golden State selected him with the No. 11 pick in the 2011 NBA draft.
Although the Warriors publicly expressed their desire to retain Thompson, they left the door open for him to seek other offers. He chose to leave the Bay Area and sign a three-year, $50 million contract to join the Western Conference champion Mavericks.
“They’re going to miss Klay, but it’s been over for two years,” Barkley said. “They were in play inThey were not in QualifiersThey had a great run and now it’s over and you have to start rebuilding for the future.”
Golden State’s response to losing Thompson was to add two veterans who are expected to be able to fill the void — guards Buddy Hield and Dean-Anthony Milton — and further bolster the roster by negotiating a sign-and-trade deal to acquire forward Kyle Anderson.
The team will work with veterans Stephen Curry and Draymond Green to form a deep group of experienced players, but according to Barkley, that won’t make much of a difference as Curry (36) and Green (34) age.
“They still have some basketball skills, but as far as getting to the highest level, those days are gone,” Barkley said.
Curry and Green were not willing to accept that. Moreover, the Warriors were not giving up on the pursuit of an All-Star player who could help the veterans establish themselves as legitimate contenders.
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