Morning BS - 9/17/14

My day started with a laugh today after reading the Hang Time Blog over at NBA.com. 

Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors have until October 31 to nail down a contract extension or else Thompson becomes a restricted free agent next summer. His agent, Bill Duffy, has made it clear that his client

would certainly rather have an extension set in stone than hit the market next year.

His All-Star teammate Stephen Curry seems to think Thompson deserves the payday (from Warriors World):

“Every year there is some rumor in play and teams are trying to make a power move. But they’ve made a decision, at least it seems like they have, that Klay is an investment they don’t want to give up. That speaks volumes to what he has been able to do in his career and his potential. I’m happy that he’s my backcourt mate.”

But here's the funny part, Duffy goes on to say that Thompson is the best shooting guard in the league: 

"I don’t want Kobe Bryant to go crazy, but there’s some uncertainty as to who he is right now (because of injuries that limited him to six games last season),” Duffy told USA TODAY Sports. “But I think Klay Thompson right now is the top two-way, two-guard in basketball. I think when you look at his body of work, when you look at what he accomplished guarding point guards on a regular basis (last season), I think it’s pretty clear.”

"I think Klay Thompson right now is the top two-way, two-guard in basketball."

Didn't Klay come off the bench throughout the World Cup in Spain this summer?

That's right, behind James Harden—the actual best shooting guard in the NBA.

Harden may not give any effort on defense and is known to have leadership problems, but he's already been given much more responsibility in this league than Klay Thompson will ever get; And he's done a pretty good job of putting the Houston Rockets on his back, especially before Dwight Howard came along. Could Thompson single-handedly lead a team to the playoffs in the treacherous Western Conference?

Harden averaged more points per game through the FIBA World Cup games and in the NBA. He averaged just under 17 points per game with the Oklahoma City Thunder, not an easy task when you're the third option behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Thompson's points per game averages are nothing to sneeze at, but when you're primarily a spot-up, three-point shooter it's hard to give as much credit compared to a scoring, slashing Harden, who can also knock down outside shots. 

The Beard has also improved his assists each season since his rookie year from under 1.8 to 6.1. In Thompson's three years, he's averaged 2.0, 2.2, and 2.2—no improvement. 

In terms of rebounds, Harden, who is two inches shorter than Thompson, averaged three more rebounds per game than Thompson last year.

The statistics don't lie. 

But these days in the NBA there's more of a need of swingmen like Thompson who can play both sides of the ball. Similar players like Chandler Parsons and Gordon Hayward recently signed maximum contract extensions, so it wouldn't be surprising if the Warriors management coughed up the dough to keep their other Splash Brother.