With a three-month negotiating window less than a week from closing, Jason Richardson on Tuesday called it "mind-boggling" that the Warriors have not extended his contract.
Richardson, the team's top scorer and second-leading rebounder last season, revealed that he is seeking a package "somewhere around the area" of the reported six-year, $72-plus million contract small forward Richard Jefferson received from New Jersey in August.
The Warriors' 23-year-old shooting guard has grown frustrated that contract talks have dragged this long. If the Warriors do not strike a deal with Richardson or fellow fourth-year player Troy Murphy by Sunday night, both will become restricted free agents after the season, with Golden State able to match any offer.
Citing his improvements each season and dedication to the organization, Richardson said "there should be no question" that he merits a rich extension, even though the Warriors have not finished with a winning record or made the playoffs in any of his three seasons.
"I played last year with a coach who didn't like me," Richardson said, referring to Eric Musselman. "I played with injuries, I tried point guard the last 10 games (of last season). I just don't understand what the problem is. It's kind of mind-boggling. I come back a better player every year.
"I think I've been very loyal to the franchise. I've represented this franchise in dunk contests, the Rookie Challenge, the stuff at All-Star Weekend. I think it's time for them to be loyal back to me."
Richardson said Warriors vice president Chris Mullin has told him a few times that a deal will be completed. Mullin declined to comment Tuesday. Richardson's agent, Dan Fegan, who also represents Murphy, has said he will not comment on negotiations.
Asked if he was optimistic about signing, Richardson said: "I hope something gets done. ... We're not quite there yet, but hopefully we can get there."
Murphy, though reluctant to discuss particulars, echoed that sentiment.
"The way I understand it, they have a young nucleus with Jason, Mike (Dunleavy), myself and they're trying to keep it together," the power forward said. "They have the opportunity to keep it together. Jason and I want to be here. We'd both like to get something done before the season. That's really what we're looking at right now."
The Warriors are looking at an interesting market for young swingmen.
Richardson's statistics last season -- 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds (tops among all guards), a career-high 43.8 percent from the field and 28.2 percent from 3-point range -- were similar to those of shooting guard Quentin Richardson, who averaged 17.2 points and 6.4 rebounds and shot 39.8 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from beyond the arc with the Clippers.
As a restricted free agent, Quentin Richardson, 24, signed a six-year, $42-plus million offer sheet with Phoenix that the Clippers did not match.
Jason Richardson, however, noted Jefferson's financial windfall and labeled the two "identical players." Jefferson, 24, known as a better defender than Richardson, averaged a team-leading 18.5 points and 5.7 rebounds and hit 49.8 percent from the field (12th best in the league) and 36.4 percent from long distance last season. He teamed with Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin for back-to-back Eastern Conference titles in 2002 and 2003 before playing for Team USA in the Athens Olympics.
"I think the only difference between him and me is he played on a winning team with two All-Stars. I played on a losing team with no All-Stars," Richardson said. "If I had two All-Stars and we played in the playoffs, there would be no question that I would get that money. As for our play, our numbers are identical, and I did it without two All-Stars.'"