Clay ignores Curry after falling from a maximum salary of 43 million! After leaving the Warriors, Clay gradually becomes a marginal role

The NBA is in a long offseason. Many Western teams have strengthened a lot this summer. The Rockets have obtained Durant, the Nuggets have upgraded Porter Jr.’s salary to Cameron Johnson + Valan + Hardaway Jr. Bruce Brown, and the Clippers have obtained Bill + Paul + Lopez + Collins. According to US media calculations, the threshold for the Western Conference playoffs is expected to reach 53 wins (the second Rockets in the West only have 52 wins last season). The Thunder + Nuggets + Clippers + Rockets + Timberwolves have the possibility of rushing out of the West. The Lakers and Warriors naturally fell to the second level, but there is a team that is easily overlooked: the Mavericks. After sending Doncic away, the Mavericks were lucky to get the No. 1 pick this summer and selected Flag. In addition, they signed Russell to make up for the vacancy of Irving's absence next season.

The Mavericks' team's salary has reached US$210 million, second in the league, second only to the Cavaliers' 226 million. First of all, the Mavericks' upper limit for next season is determined by Davis. When Irving can come back is the key; but the team's lower limit is to ensure that the talented No. 1 pick Flag can let the team see the future in the rookie season. But one person is in a rather awkward situation, that is, Clay, who will be 36 years old next season. US media "TA" predicts that the ranking of the top 40 shooting guards in the new season will be fifth in the Clay league, even higher than Bill, Raven and Reeves. But judging from the player ability value given by 2K26, Clay has dropped to 79, ranking sixth in the team. Except for the three-pointer A+, the others are basically C and D. After leaving the Warriors, Clay is not far from retirement.

starts with two messages. First of all, when Clay was asked about his top five shooters in history and the top five shooters in his recent interview, the answers given by Clay are: Curry + Miller + Ray Allen + Bird + himself; Curry + Durant + himself + Booker + Doncic. But immediately afterwards, when the host Cooper talked to Clay about his teammate Irving, Clay opened up: He is the most difficult opponent I have ever defended. I will put him at the same level as James, Durant, and Kobe. You can feel the energy he brings. He can make everyone better and is an extraordinary leader. What about Curry? Clay and Curry are no longer Splash Brothers, they have been opponents for a season. Or in Clay's heart, Curry is not at the same level as Irving, Durant, and James?

Moreover, when the previous two questions have been mentioned continuously, it is believed that Curry is not the most difficult opponent to defend against, and he obviously has some neglected attitude. In the words of US media, perhaps this is directly related to how Clay left the Warriors. In the summer of 2019, Clay tore the cruciate ligament, but the Warriors still gave him a five-year maximum salary of 190 million yuan, with a salary of 43 million yuan in the 23-24 season. But in the 23-24 season, Clay wanted to stay with the Warriors. The Warriors provided a maximum of 2 years and 50 million contract. Clay did not agree and turned around and signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Mavericks. It can be understood that perhaps Clay could not accept the huge salary difference between the two when he was a teammate with Curry. After all, Curry has been the first in the league for nine consecutive years, and next season it will be 59.61 million!

And Clay's annual salary next season is only 16.67 million! The original Splash Brothers, Curry was about to complete his perfect career as one person and one city, but Clay took the initiative to leave. Clay was very competitive. But to be honest, Clay's physical condition can no longer support his ambitions. After ruptured the cruciate ligament in the summer of 2019, he was recuperating for a whole year and suffered a rupture of the Achilles tendon. When he returned in the 21-22 season, he won the fourth championship trophy with the Warriors. However, it was from that season that the merits led by Clay had obvious contradictions and contradictions with the young man led by Poole. Clay can get more attack rights. Even if the defense cannot catch up with others, Cole will give him more time by default, and Curry will also have the default guarantee.

When this contradiction is irreconcilable, the young Warriors leave one after another, and Clay cannot escape the ending: he plays selfishly, takes action blindly, hoping to get a big contract. But what about leaving the Warriors? Last season, Clay averaged 14 points per game, with a shooting percentage of 41% + 39% in both events. It is reasonable to see the basic data, but the real hit percentage and effective hit percentage are both outside the 200th place in the league, and the game contribution is 221st in the league. He is similar to Paul George of 76ers. When he reaches the age of 35, he has dropped particularly quickly. In addition, Clay's On-Off value is only -1.7. Texas media analyzed that Clay's starting position in the new season is not stable. The Mavericks' potential starter: Russell + Flag + Davis + Levley, Clay is gradually becoming a marginalist.

The top 3D of the NBA was in the past, but after two major injuries, the defense plummeted, slowed down, slowed down, and could not keep up with others. He was good at shooting, but his efficiency was declining. During the Warriors' period, it was actually Curry and Cole's unblocked tolerance, which led to Klay's average of about 20 points per game in those years, but his real shooting percentage was a mess. The key is that Clay will turn 36 next season, and his role positioning becomes less and less important. Referring to his strong personality, when this contract expires, Clay is really likely to stay away from basketball and say goodbye to the NBA.