"It's a slap in the face. It's very disrespectful" – Kenyon Martin believes the Warriors did Klay Thompson wrong in their contract negotiations

Emotions must never get in the way of business negotiations. However, this is apparently what happened between All-Star wingman Klay Thompson and the only team he has ever played for, the Golden State Warriors . After the two sides couldn’t agree on the details of a new contract, the “Splash Brother” signed with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, agreeing to a three-year deal reportedly worth $50 million.

According to former All-Star Kenyon Martin , Klay shouldn’t have gone through such a tenuous negotiation process. In his opinion, the Warriors should have done right by their longtime star, who helped raise the franchise from a perennial laughingstock to a global powerhouse.

Should have had a conversation, not a negotiation

The former Washington State star was there with the Warriors at every step of their rise to prominence. From getting drafted 11th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft to becoming a full-time starter in his sophomore season to solidifying his standing as one half of possibly the greatest NBA backcourt of all time, “The Splash Brothers,” to winning multiple championships, Klay was there.

Despite the fact that he’s not as flashy or outspoken as his backcourt mate Steph Curry, Klay has proven time and time again that he is an integral piece of the Warriors’ success. His ability to catch fire from beyond the arc at any moment and his lockdown defense on the perimeter made him an invaluable asset to the Dubs.

But instead of acknowledging this and rewarding him accordingly, the Warriors chose to play hardball in negotiations for his next contract. Reports mentioned that Golden State offered him a two-year deal worth $48 million last offseason, which he declined, opting for a better contract this summer.

This ultimately led to months of tension between Klay and the front office, with many speculating that he would leave in free agency. However, after much back-and-forth, it was announced that Klay had signed a three-year contract worth $50 million with one of the Warriors’ rivals in the West, the Mavs.

K-Mart said the Dubs could have avoided all these had they given Klay the respect he so rightfully deserved.

“Let's sit down and have a real conversation. Let's come up with a number we're both comfortable with, where neither of us feels taken advantage of. That’s what the conversation should have been, right? Instead of, ‘This is our number. We're not budging. Take it or leave it.’ That ain't right. You shouldn't give him an ultimatum like that,” the former number one overall pick said on “Gil’s Arena.”

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A slap in the face

Kenyon’s words hold weight. After all, the Warriors’ incredible run of success since winning the NBA title in 2015 wouldn’t have happened without Klay’s two-way contributions. As a matter of fact, when Draymond Green was a free agent in 2023, the Warriors rewarded him with a four-year deal worth $100 million. However, Klay wasn’t afforded the same luxury when he hit free agency in 2024, which irked K-Mart.

“You paid Draymond. You gave Draymond that sh*t—I'm the guy. I'm a bucket. I've averaged more points than him. I've done this, and we don't do none of this without me. So, I fought back through all this to get back here to help us win again, and this is the motherf*****g thanks I get?” Kenyon asserted.

K-Mart considers this development nothing but sheer disrespect. When the late, great Kobe Bryant became a free agent in 2014, the LA Lakers didn’t hesitate to hand him a two-year deal worth $48.5 million, all of which was guaranteed. Take note that the Lakers gave Bean this incredible deal even when the latter was at the backend of his career, having just returned from a torn Achilles and was a shell of his former explosive self.

“Looking at it like a slap in the face, man. Disrespectful. It's very disrespectful. Like you said, with certain guys and certain organizations, it should never be about that. It shouldn't be about the money because what I've helped bring in it ain’t nowhere near what I'm asking for. So, it's foul on the Golden State Warriors’ behalf,” Martin stressed.

Klay and the Warriors may not have had the Hollywood ending they deserved, but such is life in the cruel, harsh business of the NBA. Perhaps, somewhere down the line, Klay and the organization he helped raise can find peace in this not-so-happy ever after.

Related: "I don't think they have ever been right since" - Brandon Jennings says Golden State's dynasty ended before Klay Thompson's exit