Which Players Are Most Affected by Klay Thompson’s Contract Extension?

Draymond Green (cont’d.)

Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Green is currently in the final year of his rookie contract worth $915,243.

Due to CBA rules, the Warriors were unable to extend his contract prior to the extension deadline (Oct. 31), but the $1.15 million qualifying offer he received after Golden State picked up his team option will make Green a restricted free agent following the 2014-15 season.

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However, the $63.27 million payroll the Warriors have projected next season WITHOUT Thompson’s extension is already close to the NBA’s $66.5 million salary cap, and the $81 million luxury tax threshold isn’t too far in front of that figure.

Add in Thompson’s new deal, and the Warriors are pushed to around $79 million next season, and that’s without Marreese Speights (team option), Leandro Barbosa, Nemanja Nedovic (team option declined), Ognjen Kuzmic, and Brandon Rush (player option).

The Warriors could definitely re-sign the 6-foot-7-inch power forward to a new deal in the $7-9 million area — Jeff Van Gundy said during Wednesday’s Warriors game with the Los Angeles Clippers that teams may offer a contract worth $10-12 million a year — but such a deal would surely push Golden State over the tax line.

As history suggests, Warriors ownership would rather avoid paying the tax, but refusal to pay up would result in the Warriors losing Green to another team’s offer sheet in restricted free agency.