The Warriors are going to have to open up their checkbook this offseason if they want to keep the band together.
With Kevin Durant expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent, and Klay Thompson also set to hit the free-agent market, keeping the NBA's juggernaut together will cost a pretty penny, one the ownership group has said it has no problem paying.
While Durant and Thompson are both likely to command the max contract, an early-season slump by Thompson could end up saving the Warriors a lot of money this offseason.
If Thompson asks for the max deal, which all signs are pointing to, he'll be able to ask for 30 percent of the salary cap with 8 percent yearly raises. Unless, of course, Thompson is named to an All-NBA team, in which case, he can command 35 percent of the salary cap with the yearly raises.
Here's where Thompson's early-season struggles come into play.
The Warriors star struggled to find the range over the first two months, finishing the month of December shooting 34.42 percent from 3-point range. Thompson has picked up the pace since the new year, however, shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc while averaging a shade over 22 points per game.
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While his second-half numbers are good, it is unlikely Thompson makes an All-NBA team.
Steph Curry and James Harden are locks to make the first team, with Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard likely taking home the second team honors.
That leaves Thompson fighting for a third team spot with the likes of Kemba Walker, Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell and Victor Oladipo.
Should Thompson secure one of the two spots on the third team, he could command a contract of around five years, $220 million. If he doesn't make the third team, he can only get a contract of around $190 million.
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When it comes to the contracts Durant and Thompson will ask for, any amount of savings will help a team that is destined to be paying the luxury tax offender penalty if it keeps its core together.
