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The Los Angeles Lakers could have a vested interest in Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson's contract talks with the team by the Bay.
According to Monte Poole of CSN Bay Area, (via Dan Duangdao of Lakers Nation) the Warriors have a little over three weeks to bridge a pretty significant financial gap, securing Thompson for the next half-decade:
The Warriors have 22 days to preemptively deliver a contract extension that will keep Klay Thompson with the franchise for at least another five years.
But there has been no movement in recent weeks. As of Thursday morning, the sides remain $2-3 million a year apart, according to NBA sources.
Per Poole, the difference between the Warriors' current offer and Thompson's stated price is the difference between a big contract and a maximum deal:
Thompson is seeking a max deal, or something close – at least $15 million per year – while the Warriors, according to sources, hover around $13 million per.
If Thompson doesn't sign in the next few weeks, he will enter next offseason as a restricted free agent, allowing the Warriors to match any potential contract offers. However, if he signs Golden State's qualifying offer this offseason rather than testing the market, Thompson would be an unrestricted free agent after the 2015-16 season.
The Lakers have expressed interest in the son of former Laker Mychal Thompson, and they could very well be positioned to take a run at Klay either his restricted or unrestricted free agency periods.
Keep an eye on this one, as GM Mitch Kupchak could very well look to make a splash by procuring one of the Splash Brothers from their Pacific Division rivals.
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