The Golden State Warriors faced a devastating loss in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals when they fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers. While LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love celebrate their victory, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson face a difficult decision. That is, the Golden State Warriors must determine how to boost their current roster to ensure that their historic loss in the NBA will no longer be repeated. With this in mind, sources disclosed that a Klay Thompson trade might be the answer.
The Splash Brothers carried the Golden State Warriors to greatness for two seasons up until LeBron James and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers stepped in to stop Stephen Curry's reign. This proved that the former champions will need to bring in players who can do more than just score in the hardwood court. With Stephen Curry crowned as the unanimous MVP, it would be impractical for the Golden State Warriors to trade him. As for Draymond Green, his performance in the Game 7 of the NBA Finals proved his capacity to respond to pressure. This leaves Klay Thompson.
In addition, Thompson reportedly earned the ire of Draymond Green for acting like a "loser" after Game 7. While Green did not specifically name Stephen Curry's co-Splash Brother, fans believe that the behavior of Thompson irked his teammates.
"I just knew that going to the locker room after the game wasn't right," Green said. He added, "That's what a loser does. I'm not a loser. They earned it. They took it from us. It's right to tell them congratulations. I made sure I got to everybody. The coaching staff. The players. Security guys. Everybody. They earned it. They never quit. I just wanted to make sure I got to everybody."
As the other and less famous half of the Splash Brothers, Klay Thompson has been rarely reported on by the media. However, his contribution to the Golden State Warriors often gave them the edge to win crucial games. While Stephen Curry would be devastated to lose his teammate, rumors are rife that releasing Klay Thompson would give the NBA team the leverage to sign Kevin Durant by the next season.
The Kevin Durant free agency train has yet to choose its next destination. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder star has chosen to keep mum on his move until all deals are finalized. If the speculations are to be believed, then the Golden State Warriors are presenting themselves as very strong contenders to sign Kevin Durant. In an effort to clear up the cap space and offer KD a massive contract, the 2014-15 NBA champions are expected to initiate a Klay Thompson trade.
What do you think? Will a Klay Thompson trade give the Golden State Warriors more advantage to sign other NBA stars? Can Stephen Curry still be great without the other half of the Splash Brothers?