Warriors release Chris Paul and Klay Thompson will likely leave

Chris Paul has been waived by the Warriors. Chris Paul was given until Sunday to sign a contract for $30 million in season 2024-25.

By Kendra Andrews

Jun 30, 2024 09:52 PM

Golden State Warriors has waived guard Chris Paul, who had to meet a deadline on Sunday in order to ensure his $30 million salary this season.

Paul has become a free agent.

Paul was an NBA All-Star twelve times. He accepted a reduced role with the Warriors during last season. In 26.4 minutes, he averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists.

Jordan Poole acquired the veteran 39-year-old last summer. The move is essentially a salary dump, as Paul’s contracts will be wiped from the books.

At first, the Warriors moved Paul’s date of arrival to look at possible trades. However, no deals were made.

They will likely also be without Klay Thompson, who is a free-agent after 13 years with the Warriors. The Warriors enter free agency as a mid-level non-taxpaying team.

Free agents can be signed using the mid-level exception of $12.8 millions and the biannual exemption.

According ESPN’s Adrian Wojnaowski Thompson will be in contact with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers as well as the Philadelphia 76ers within the first hour of being a free agent.

Thompson’s tenure as a Warriors’ player is approaching its end due to the fractured relationships between the two parties, and the fact that the contract negotiations were not resumed last summer.

ESPN reports that the mid-level exemption Thompson may receive from the Lakers might not be enough to convince him to move to Los Angeles. Thompson is open to all offers and opportunities.