“Dude will be out of the league soon” – Warriors make things awkward for Klay Thompson, Draymond Green by signing veteran that both stars DISLIKE
Warriors have Rodney McGruder in the mix for the upcoming training camp.
Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Rodney McGruder (Credits: ESPN, Bleacher Report and ABC News)
The Golden State Warriors are making this off-season interesting as they seem to be interested in signing veteran forward Rodney McGruder, who is currently a free agent. What makes this news so interesting is the fact that both of the Warriors’ important players, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, have had some beef with McGruder in the past.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater, veteran McGruder is set to be included in the mix during this year’s training camp for the Warriors because, as part of their tradition, the Warriors often use training camp and the preseason to create opportunities for players to compete for the final roster spots available.
During the 2021 bubble season, there was a notable altercation at the conclusion of a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Detroit Pistons. Thompson appeared on the news broadcast and was questioned about the incident. During his comments, Thompson strongly criticized Rodney McGruder for his role in the scuffle.
“This dude might be out of the league soon, he’s probably mad about that,” Thompson said. “He’s over here checking my guy… He’s over here trying to start something like he’s a good player or something. It’s like bro, get out of here. I’m sorry, we’re done.”
After the game, Draymond didn’t hold back when addressing McGruder, intensifying his criticism of McGruder’s actions. “Get the hell out of here. F*cking tough guy. Rodney, RODNEY.” Draymond said.
McGruder has an impressive seven-season career in the NBA, having suited up for the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, and Los Angeles Clippers. Over this span, he has averaged a solid statistical record, averaging 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds across 318 regular-season games.
With the new season getting closer every day, it will be interesting to see how the Warriors shape themselves for this one, especially if this signing happens.
Warriors and Klay Thompson are opting for contract extension talks with a laidback approach
The Golden State Warriors are approaching Klay Thompson’s contract extension with patience. Thompson, Stephen Curry’s ball brother and a five-time All-Star, is currently in the final year of his five-year, $189 million deal signed in 2019, and he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season.
As reported by Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Warriors and Klay Thompson are taking a measured approach and are not in a hurry to reach an agreement on his contract:
Slater reported, “No official offers or counteroffers have been made from either side, according to league sources who were granted anonymity so that they could speak freely. No exact salary numbers have been floated. There isn’t a rush from either side, and there isn’t a deadline. It could theoretically be done in-season, though I’d expect serious discussions (and perhaps an agreement) to come before that.”
As per Slater’s report, the projected salary cap increase for the next season is currently at 4.2 percent. However, there is speculation within the league that it could potentially fall in the range of 5 to 10 percent. Each additional percentage point increase provides the Golden State Warriors with an extra $1.4 million in financial flexibility.
Slater also believes trading away Jordan Poole for Chris Paul is a clear sign that they intend to retain Thompson in a new deal.
Thompson has been in the NBA for more than a decade now and has played a prominent role in the Warriors’ championship victory. Thompson has played ten seasons for the Warriors, averaging 19.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 716 regular-season games. He was selected to play in 5 All-Star games and has won 4 NBA championships.
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Ritvik Malhotra
(1085 Articles Published)