[TrumpCard]

The rules are complex but the NBA isn't like MLB where you can simply dump a high salaried player. In general salaries have to match up in order to comply with the league's trade rules. Of course you can trade for expiring contracts to play with the timeline, but simply trading a high salaried player for draft picks and/or underpaid young players (on their first contracts) isn't an easy plan to execute, as it is in baseball.

The options for trading Klay Thompson are basically to get an inferior player who is earning a similar salary but on a shorter contract, e.g. Russell Westbrook or John Wall. I don't see the point of doing something like that, assuming you're still in contending mode, as the Warriors are clearly are.

I see two options for trading Klay:  

--First, like you said, trade Klay this summer for someone with 1 year left on his contract instead of 2 like Klay has.  That in theory gives the Warriors a player to help them with their shot at a title next year, and then allows the Warriors the flexibility to re-sign Poole and Wiggins next summer when Klay otherwise would have eaten up that flexibility.  Just tough to execute that without upsetting team chemistry, and equally tough to ensure that the team is getting a sufficiently high quality player in the deal.  Though, if LeBron wants out of the mess in LA, I don't think the Warriors would turn down that opportunity, even if it cost Klay plus a couple of first round picks!  

--Second, trade Klay next year, when he's the one with the expiring contract, to one of the few teams who can bring him on without returning equal salary.  That would cost a first round pick (if the opportunity is even available, which may not be the case).

[TrumpCard]

The rules are complex but the NBA isn't like MLB where you can simply dump a high salaried player. In general salaries have to match up in order to comply with the league's trade rules. Of course you can trade for expiring contracts to play with the timeline, but simply trading a high salaried player for draft picks and/or underpaid young players (on their first contracts) isn't an easy plan to execute, as it is in baseball.

The options for trading Klay Thompson are basically to get an inferior player who is earning a similar salary but on a shorter contract, e.g. Russell Westbrook or John Wall. I don't see the point of doing something like that, assuming you're still in contending mode, as the Warriors are clearly are.

I see two options for trading Klay:  

--First, like you said, trade Klay this summer for someone with 1 year left on his contract instead of 2 like Klay has.  That in theory gives the Warriors a player to help them with their shot at a title next year, and then allows the Warriors the flexibility to re-sign Poole and Wiggins next summer when Klay otherwise would have eaten up that flexibility.  Just tough to execute that without upsetting team chemistry, and equally tough to ensure that the team is getting a sufficiently high quality player in the deal.  Though, if LeBron wants out of the mess in LA, I don't think the Warriors would turn down that opportunity, even if it cost Klay plus a couple of first round picks!  

--Second, trade Klay next year, when he's the one with the expiring contract, to one of the few teams who can bring him on without returning equal salary.  That would cost a first round pick (if the opportunity is even available, which may not be the case).