There is a single reason teams keep sniffing out the availability of Klay Thompson, and it's far more easily understood than the myriad reasons the Warriors keep telling them no.
No fewer than four teams have either reached out or considered reaching out, the latest being revealed as the detested Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Warriors, of course, declined them, perhaps after general manager Bob Myers put Cavs GM Koby Altman on speakerphone so everybody at Warriors HQ could double over with team-building laughter.
The Cavs got the same answer as was previously heard by the Pacers and the Timberwolves, and maybe even the Celtics, whose interest was rumored though never actually substantiated.
All four teams, though, along with maybe few others, all reached the same conclusion. They looked at the Warriors, studied their prime core, and concluded that Thompson was the most available member.
Clearly more available than Stephen Curry, who is the face of the franchise.
Likely more available than Draymond Green, whose two-way versatility and temperament are vital to the grand ambitions of the Warriors.
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And infinitely more available than Kevin Durant, who arrived two years after Minnesota shot its shot -- by dangling Kevin Love -- and evolved into their most impressive overall player.
So it's Thompson who gets his tires kicked. He's 27 years old, has two years remaining on his contract and, most germane, seems to be the least emotionally invested star in the organization. That is may not be true, but it's an easy conclusion based on appearances and the misguided thought that the Warriors don't value him as much as they do the others.
Wrong.
"It's really cool," Thompson said Wednesday, referring to being pursued and prized. "It shows the Warriors believe in me and these other teams want me to be a part of their success. So I appreciate it. I've been in trade rumors forever. Everyone has. Except for maybe LeBron James, Steph - well, even Steph early in his career."
Any team that asks about Thompson is aware that the Thompson-Love deal gained considerable traction in 2014 before it was vetoed by then-adviser Jerry West and newly hired head coach Steve Kerr.
If the Warriors were thinking about it then, why not later?
They have their reasons, beginning with the fact they've experienced more success over the past three seasons than at any time in franchise history, winning two championships in three seasons and becoming a regular in the NBA Finals. Why even consider breaking the squad that so clearly is the cream of the NBA?
Another reason is that the Warriors have come to fully understand Thompson's role in their competitive prosperity. He's a gunslinger that manages to be highly productive without spending much time with the ball, and his fabulous defense makes that end of the court so much easier for Curry. The Thompson-Curry backcourt is the best in the league and already in the discussion for the best ever.
There is another component that is rather understated. Thompson is the ultimate zero-maintenance All-Star. In a locker room of varied personalities, some loud, nearly all opinionated, he's like a breeze that is cool enough be felt yet never so much it feels imposing.
The Warriors have come to appreciate Thompson being the closest thing to a wind-up All-Star in a league where that is exceedingly rare. Give him a jersey, a ball and some shoes and let him go.
So, no, he's not leaving anytime soon. The only way he goes before he becomes a free agent in 2019 -- at which time he's likely to take a peep around the NBA -- is if the Warriors somehow take a tumble in the standings or try to low-ball him.
Until then, teams may continue to ask. They have to as a strategy to improve themselves while diminishing the league's powerhouse. Understanding this, the Warriors will take the calls and appreciate the humor of it all.
