The Warriors could be embarking on an “organizational reset” if head coach Steve Kerr decides not to return, several team sources tell Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater of ESPN. That could involve significant changes to the roster and coaching staff as the team tries to find a new direction following a 37-45 season and an exit in the play-in tournament.
After Friday’s loss at Phoenix, Kerr indicated that he’ll take a week or two before deciding whether to continue coaching. Team sources tell Shelburne that timeline is respectful to Kerr while giving the organization enough time to address its coaching situation before moving on to roster decisions. The sources also state that staff and philosophy questions will be discussed if Kerr returns, as management believes the team has become too reliant on three-point variance and wants to see more diversification in the offense and a greater emphasis on winning the possession battle.
There are lingering concerns about the 13-15 start when the roster was mostly healthy, Shelburne adds. Late-game performance, turnover problems and a sub-.500 record during a season when so many opponents were tanking were also worrisome.
“We didn’t find it earlier in the season,” Kerr said after the team was eliminated. “We were blowing some games we should’ve closed out. I could’ve done a better job. But when Jimmy (Butler) got hurt, it felt like we were finding it.”
Sources tell Shelburne that a wide search is expected for Kerr’s successor if he opts for retirement. College coaches could be in the mix, although Shelburne cites concerns about pairing someone who has no NBA experience with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Butler as they move into the final stages of their careers.
Changes to the coaching staff are expected even if Kerr stays, per Shelburne. Long-time assistant Chris DeMarco has already left to become head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty, and sources tell Shelburne that former Pelicans head coach Willie Green could return to the Warriors to work under Kerr again.
When Kerr discusses his future with management, owner Joe Lacob will want him to exhibit a strong desire to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the job rather than stay out of loyalty to Curry and Green, according to Shelburne’s sources. They add that Lacob will ask Kerr to sign a multi-year contract instead of returning for a brief farewell tour.
Shelburne adds that the Warriors remain committed to general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., despite some outside rumors that he may be a candidate to run Chicago’s front office. She reports that Dunleavy recently signed an extension without any fanfare and has multiple years remaining on the deal.
Shelburne also notes that if Golden State’s roster remains largely intact next season, there will still be the issue of having three players in their late 30s who take up nearly 80% of the payroll. Curry will be eligible for an extension of up to two years this summer and has already talked about wanting to keep playing for multiple seasons. Butler will become extension eligible in February, which is about when he’s projected to return from an ACL tear. Shelburne hears that he’s expected to focus on getting healthy again and work out his future next summer.
Green has a $27.6MM player option for next season that he’s expected to either exercise or use as the basis to negotiate a longer deal. He was reportedly included in the Warriors’ offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo at the deadline and while there’s a still a chance he could be moved for a star, sources tell Shelburne there is “no desire or mandate” to trade Green.
Shelburne suggests that Golden State could make another offer to the Bucks this summer or try again for Clippers‘ star Kawhi Leonard, who became a target in February after the Antetokounmpo deal fell through. She adds that LeBron James could also be a possibility in free agency if he decides to leave the Lakers.
> management believes the team has become too
> reliant on three-point variance and wants to see more
> diversification in the offense and a greater emphasis
> on winning the possession battle.
And there you have it. Kerr hasn’t moved on from small ball.
Kerr still thinks in 2016 and refuses to change while teams has adjusted to his small ball offense. Maybe that is why he is not sure abouit coming back since now it MDJ call on how the team is built. Lacob is also unhappy on how Kuminga was treated who was Lacob’s pick.
How Kuminga was “treated?”
Why don’t you tune in tonight to the Hawks game and let me know what kind of player you think he is. I’d appreciate it.
I am talking about refusing to play the young players so they can get better. Post should have been playing a lot more to start the season. It took moody a long time to start playing in the rotation. Kerr trust old vets even if they are failing. Like CP3 who showed he lost it. warriors need to get younger and more athletic and Kerr is not the right coach for that.
Young players make mistakes that cost games. You can’t expect to make the playoffs with a lot of young players. To many people think like Davey. They don’t understand that it takes a full team, and not one superstar, to win a ring.
arc that’s the dilemma.
While you’re trying to win, it’s hard to play young guys who are not very good.
As I’ve said many, many times it’s not Kerr’s fault, it’s that Bob Meyers doesn’t do a good job judging Young talent and drafting them.
He screwed up the Warriors two timeline plan with crap drafts. Just go through all the names of the last 10-15 years of Warriors drafts before Dunleavy came in.
That’s not on Kerr. He’s the coach and tries to win games. They have 10 guys on the “developmental staff.”
It’s their job to work with players after practice, before practice, and that’s if the players want it !! A player has to want to work on his game !!
Or does the young player hang out with the veterans because he thinks he’s arrived as well?
This is not on Steve Kerr. Yes he’s made mistakes but refusing to give big consistent minutes to young guys is not one of them
There is talk in Atlanta that the Hawks might decline Kuminga’s option because of his inconsistent play.
I would not be surprised because $24 million for a 2nd unit player is a lot of money. Like I said before he will be another Oubre a guy that is offense off the bench but not good enough to be a starter.
Kerr never had the call on how the team was built. He left those days behind in Phoenix. He played the players he was given. After signing Durant, all the bigs were on minimum deals. You can’t find many players when you are shopping at the bargain basement.
Hmmm….almost exactly what I have been saying for the last 3 years!
Yawn. Another filler article that says absolutely nothing.
Gives us something to talk about before the Jonathan Kuminga game tonight.
Kerr’s mind is destroyed from Hamptons 5 and also Strength in Numbers, he thinks he still has all-all-stars and also goes out of his way to play too many players, who cant get enough time to gel together. GP2 was a curse on this team because Kerr believes he is a superstar who can play every position, when he is just a 2way scrub SG with hops that no other team wanted in FA.
Kerr’s coaching is so awful, for real. He never adjusts. He is on perma-autopilot because he is not good at the job. He is “Mr. Half Days” he is “Mr. I don’t know how to schedule a practice to get the new guys involved” It’s a surprise GSW won any titles with this numbskull who doesnt know ball at the helm. Pat Spencer should not be in the NBA, let alone getting major minutes, but Kerr thinks otherwise! Bye Steve, thanks for getting the least from the most!