Dub Hub: Steve Kerr says the Warriors ‘desperately’ want Klay Thompson back next season

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, April 17th.

The Golden State Warriors’ season came to an abrupt end Tuesday night after losing to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the Play-In Tournament, 118-94. It was a disappointing finish to yet another roller coaster of a season as the Kings dominated the Warriors throughout the entire night.

Despite a recent hot stretch to finish the year, Warriors’ shooting guard Klay Thompson had his worst game of the season. He shot 0-of-6 from the three-point line and 0-of-10 from the field as a whole.

After the game, Thompson’s pending free agency was the biggest topic on everyone’s mind. Head coach Steve Kerr, as well as several of Thompson’s Warriors teammates, made it clear that they “desperately” want their Splash Brother back on the team next season. Having said that, it will be up to him and the team’s front office to find a deal that makes sense for the futures of both sides.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, April 17th:

• Warriors say they want Klay Thompson back following their season ending loss to the Kings
• Lakers beat the Pelicans, 110-106, to clinch the seventh seed in the West
• Pelicans’ Zion Williamson tweaks hamstring in loss vs. Lakers

Warriors News:

Steve Kerr on Klay Thompson’s free agency: “What Klay has meant to this franchise, as good as he still is, we desperately want him back.”

Warriors lobby for Klay Thompson’s return after play-in loss | ESPN

But sources told ESPN that there wasn’t much reassurance during the season that the two parties would undoubtedly work out a resolution. That is what rubbed Thompson the wrong way.

However, Green is still confident a new deal will be reached.

“[Klay is] going to make the best decision for him, the team’s got a decision to make and they’ll make the best decision for the team. ... I don’t think there’s any scenario where Klay leaves and that’s the best decision for this team and organization,” Green said. “[The organization] has shown nothing but respect, loyalty, love and trust. I’ve got no reason to think, oh man, they’re not going to do right by Klay.

“I have no reason to think that our ownership group isn’t going to take care of us the way we have taken care of this organization.”

Steph Curry can’t see himself playing without Klay Thompson and Draymond Green

Warriors’ three kings powerless against inevitable reality in loss | NBC Sports Bay Area

“The league has gotten better,” Green said. “You’re either getting better or you’re getting worse. I think the league has improved ... and it’s going to continue to get better.”

The bell tolls for all who ever tasted the champagne of triumph. It happens. It happened to the San Antonio Spurs and their great trio: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Happened to the Los Angeles Lakers when Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles tendon, and Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher and Metta World Peace were not enough. Happened to the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman.

The aging process for championship teams is somehow both gradual and sudden. You see it coming and take pains to deny its existence until it’s visible to the entire world.

“We obviously understand that the league has changed,” said Curry, who remains confident that these Warriors are not finished as an NBA power. “And we’re getting deep into our careers, and we have to evolve, make the necessary adjustments to win games.”

Klay Thompson discusses his upcoming free agency prior to Tuesday’s game vs. the Kings

NBA News:

Lakers ready for Nuggets rematch as Ham rejects talk of alternative path | ESPN

While Ham was adamant in his rejection of a planned loss, Lakers star LeBron James was just as effusive in the respect he showed for the Nuggets.

“It’s the defending champion,” James said. “They know what it takes. They know how to win. They’ve been extremely dominant on their home floor over the last few years. They’ve got an MVP on their team. They’ve got a closer on their team. They’ve got high-level players, high-IQ players. And they’ve got a hell of a coach.

Jimmy Butler, Heat Teammates Explore the Lore of ‘Playoff Jimmy’ | Sports Illustrated

Pat Riley, Heat president: You know, it’s normal to him. And I think when somebody puts a moniker on you like that, it just sort of, even though he has performed at a high level and had some outrageous games in the playoffs, it puts a little more pressure on you the next year to be “Playoff Jimmy.” So, from that standpoint, he plays it down. And it also comes to the standpoint where I said, you know, he really doesn’t need a pat on the back. He doesn’t need to be called “Playoff Jimmy.” He just wants to be a winner. And if somebody lays that kind of thing on him, and he has to answer a question about it, I’m not surprised that he sort of says ’No, that’s not me; I just go out there and I hoop.’ And he’s sincere about that. He knows what winning time really is about and when it is, and he will play the game the right way.

Pelicans Zion Williamson tweaks hamstring vs. Lakers, according to Shams Charania

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Player grades: Warriors vs. Kings

Moses Moody

15 minutes, 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 5-for-8 shooting, 2-for-4 threes, 4-for-5 free throws, 78.4% TS, +3

No other Warriors can claim to be what Moody was on Tuesday night: really good.

Grade: A+

Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.

The Warriors’ lack of cohesion and identity doomed their season as they stumble out of playoff contention

There’s no better way to describe the Warriors’ tax situation as problematic and possibly limiting. But there’s also no denying that having the spending bill they had this season and being booted out of the playoffs being the outcome is a serious problem. Their search for an identity also extends to the front office and ownership: what kind of team do you want to be moving forward? A rebuilding one? A team that wants to keep being playoff contenders?

If they want to be the former, there will be a serious reckoning. But at the very least, it’s a defined path with a defined goal, without the wishy-washiness of the two-timelines experiment. If they want to be the latter, they’ll also have to lean into that, as well — and that starts with putting the requisite support Curry and Green need in order to be the best version of themselves (e.g., the presence of bona fide support scorers to relieve Curry of the scoring burden and more versatile defenders to help Green maximize their half-court defense).

Those are the questions the Warriors need to answer heading into what will be an offseason of hard decisions. But those are the ones they’ll have to make, no matter which direction they want to take.

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