In this offseason, the 33-year-old Dream turned down the remaining $27.5 million of his contract in a striking gesture, and then the Golden State Warriors did not hesitate to offer him a four-year, $100 million contract extension, like a grand opening of the "pension plan". However, this seemingly generous contract doomed the former dynasty team to a bleak end.
The damage caused by the renewal of a high salary is all-round. The first problem is that the Warriors can't keep Jordan Poole anymore. Throughout the 2022-23 season, the Warriors have endured significant damage to the locker room caused by the separation of the two sides, and even evolved into an open and secret battle between the team's meritorious veterans and young newcomers. In the end, the Warriors were sent home by their old rival LeBron in this tearing atmosphere.
The departure does mean that the Warriors face a 20-per-game scoring superstar, but more importantly, the Meritorious Veterans have been able to demonstrate their privileged status through practical actions, especially the obvious double-standard attitude in contract extension negotiations.
Klay Thompson, as one of the Warriors' exploits, has been on a par with Curry in the past, known as the "Splash Brothers", and has saved the team many times at critical moments. However, he was treated very differently from Dream Chase on the issue of contract renewal. Management made it clear that if you want a big contract, you have to look at the performance in the "contract year". This treatment made Klay feel that the tear between himself and the team was extremely painful.
The 33-year-old Klay has made many great sacrifices for the team, but has received a cold reception on the issue of contract extension. In contrast, Dream Chasing has repeatedly caused trouble, squeezing out Durant and driving away Poole, but he can easily sign a big contract of 100 million for 4 years. This makes Clay's performance weird and puzzling.
In Klay's view, his dedication and contribution to the team seem to have been overlooked, in stark contrast to the successful dream of a contract extension. Klay's confusion on the court and dissatisfaction with the attitude of management have thrown the Warriors into chaos, and the anxiety of young players about the meritorious players has deepened.
And the management's weakness and double-standard attitude in dealing with the problem of chasing dreams have laid the groundwork for the chaos of the Warriors. The "thug" who once held a four-year contract has further exacerbated the team's woes this season. Not only did it cause frequent conflicts on the court, but it also cast a stain on the Warriors and damaged the image of the entire NBA.
The violent behavior of Dream Chasing not only caused trouble to the Warriors, but also caused headaches for the entire league. Hopefully, the NBA will be able to clear this neuropathy and violent mania, make the wind clear on the basketball court, and rebuild the image of the league. It is also a farewell to the past dynasty, and the glory may eventually come to an end in the hands of the dream.