© Kyle Terada | 2017 Mar 18
Klay Thompson is one of the most beloved Warriors players of all time. But everyone has a price.
That price is the services of Giannis Antetokounmpo according to Tim Legler of ESPN, who told Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks on Wednesday that if the Warriors had to package Thompson in a deal for Giannis, who is scheduled to be a free agent in 2021, it would be a no-brainer.
“You’d have to make that move,” Legler said on KNBR. “You’re talking about a guy in his mid 20s. For me you’re prime is about 25 to 31. You’re talking about a guy that’s already been an MVP, gonna be an MVP again this year in my opinion. (He’s) just entering the beginning of his prime years.
You’ve got a Steph Curry there, the greatest shooter that’s ever lived, playing with a guy that’s one of the most unstoppable physical forces in the league. You can add pieces around Giannis Antetokounmpo that I don’t even know if they have in Milwaukee right now. You’re talking about now going on another run with the Golden State Warriors, while you still have Steph Curry.
“While I love Klay Thompson, there are very few guys in this league whose name you could throw into some sort of trade for Klay Thompson that I would say, ‘Yeah, you’d have to make that move.’ That’s how highly I regard Klay — not only as a player, (but) as person (and) what he has meant to the organization. I’m a big believer in a loyalty factor that you’d love to see.
“But you’re talking about Giannis Antetokounmpo. When you take the talent combined with the age, and the other pieces they already have there, you’re talking about a another sustained run that I don’t know if you’re going to get if you don’t do something like that.
“You’d have to make that move if you’re the Golden State Warriors and you have that opportunity.”