The question for the Warriors, first, is whether they'll retain Klay Thompson. But if they don't retain him, what is their move? Can they level up to get a franchise-caliber star player?
Audacy NBA Insider Nick Friedell joined Willard and Dibs Thursday to discuss where the Warriors are at.
First, the Thompson question. How likely is it that Klay stays? Friedell thinks it's completely up in the air.
"As Klay goes, Mr. Dibs flatly, I think it's 50-50 at this point," Friedell said. "I'm not sure which direction it's gonna go. I have always thought in terms of Klay's future with the organization, it's going to depend on just how tight that relationship is with Klay and Joe Lacob. Joe Lacob has said repeatedly, 'Klay he's my guy, I want to Klay and Steph to retire here.' He's got to be the one, to me, to make it happen.
"Not only financially, but everybody's got an ego on some level and they've got to go to Klay and say hey, this is what it's gonna be if you stay here moving forward. Does Klay want that? And how much of it is money? How much of it is pride? How much of it is he wants to still be the guy on this team and one of the main faces and his game and his body just haven't allowed that after all the injuries. So I flatly think it's it's 50-50 there."
Friedell was asked about making a move for a potential star swing for the Warriors. He poured cold water on it, but addressed whether Jimmy Butler could be that guy.
"I don't see that guy out there," Friedell said. "I don't even see that possibility of somebody that you're going to give up the assets for that's going to make that much of a difference.
"know Jimmy Butler's name has popped up in the conversation of rumors and would the Warriors give him the money and the contract he wants? I think it is a fit on paper, but having covered Jimmy long enough, one, I'm not exactly sure how he fits into that locker room as the Alpha personality that he is. And two, I don't know if after all the wear and tear on his knees especially over the last few years, if you're the Warriors if you want to give him that type of extension. That would scare the hell out of me."
In the past seven seasons, Butler has never played more than 65 of the NBA's 82 games. He missed the first round of the playoffs against the Celtics with a right MCL sprain suffered in the play-in game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Friedell said he expects the Warriors to look very similar next season and broke down much more. Listen to the full interview above.
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