Klay Thompson had the kind of offseason that could earn him a solid pay raise next offseason. The small forward proved himself to be a strong asset to Team USA as they went on the win the FIBA championship title and now he will enter the 2014 season with his stock the highest it has been. After avoiding a trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thompson will start the season in a Golden State uniform, but will he finish wearing the same one?

Thompson is approaching free agency and is looking for a pay raise, a big pay raise. According to Thompson's agent Bill Duffy, in an interview with USA Today Sports, his client is a better player than Kobe Bryant and deserves to get paid as such. Many NBA sources believe that Thompson will request a max contract from the Warriors, something he may or may not get.

"I don't want (Los Angeles Lakers star) 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 said, via 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."

Thompson averaged 18.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 44 percent from the field. While the Warriors were shopping him in a deal for Kevin Love, they praised his value for the team when the trade failed. Thompson has been hearing all summer that he is important to Golden State and now wants to get paid like it.

The issue for Thompson is Stephen Curry's contract. The Warriors are not going to pay Thompson more than Curry which means a four-year deal instead of five which is what a max deal for the small forward would be. If Golden State does not give Thompson a max contract, someone in the league will. He is considered one of the best young stars in the league right now and there will be a team willing to pay him.

Will Golden State be forced to trade mid-season? The move is unlikely considering how much the Warriors will ask in return for the forward. While he and stars like Rajon Rondo and Greg Monroe are expected to be the big grabs in free agency in 2015, that does not mean they will get sent packing sooner rather than later.