NOW WHAT KLAY THOMPSON? WILL YOU STAY WITH THE WARRIORS, OR WILL YOU GO?

Even the most die-hard Golden State Warriors fans must have realized that their dynasty has been on life support for the past 24 months. Well, after getting stomped on in the play-in by a shorthanded Sacramento Kings team, it’s safe to say the dynasty is no more. 

The time of death was officially called after Klay Thompson's last missed three-point attempt. Thompson, who went 0-for-10 from the field, including 0-for-6 from beyond the arc, most likely shot his last jump shot for the Warriors.   

"We need Klay back," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. "He's still got good years left. And I know I speak for everybody in the organization: We want him back. ... What Klay has meant to this franchise and as good as he still is, we desperately want him back." 

Kerr’s comments are pretty much what you’d expect him to say about one of the cornerstones of the Warriors' recent dynasty.  

"I've watched him the last couple years fighting the feeling of devastation from injuries and I watched him this season flip his season around," Kerr said. "I saw him enjoy the second half of the season and play with a little more freedom and joy, so tonight was tough to see him struggle."

"It's about commending him on a hell of a year," Stephen Curry said. "Everyone is going to talk about one game, and I know he wanted to do better. We go through so much over 82 games, and the fact that he was able to turn his season around with a new role and adjusting ... just really having fun playing basketball and being at peace out there with it all, I'm more worried about that."

NOW WHAT KLAY?
For starters, Thompson kept his distance from the press and did not address the media following the game, but earlier in the day, during shootaround, he expressed that he was able to maintain focus on the game despite the looming free agency. "That's life," Thompson remarked. "I've had so much success here, I'm not going to let whatever future happens make me sour about what I've achieved in a Warriors jersey. I don't let that affect me."

From a free-agency standpoint, plenty of contenders would love to sign Thompson for the right price. Thompson, who made over $43 Million this year, will certainly be asked to take a significant pay cut.

Take Grayson Allen of the Phoenix Suns, who just signed a contract that will pay him an average of $17.5 Million a year. Allen averages 13.5 points on a league-leading 46.1% from the 3-point arc. Thompson averaged 17.9 points a game this season on 38.7% from the 3-point arc and is considerably older than Allen, and appears to be starting to ski down the backside of career mountain.

I’m not saying that Allen is better than Thompson, but for the price, Allen is certainly bringing more value to the court.

Should Klay decide to stay with the Warriors, he will have to do it for considerably less than he did this year. He will undoubtedly be able to make more on the open market from contenders who are in need of a splash brother injection to their perimeter game.

THE UNDERRATED LINE:
So, while the Warriors organization, coaches, and players will all say they want Klay back, the reality of the NBA open market makes it pretty clear that Klay will be searching for Ocean—or lakefront property in another zip