The Warriors have put the wraps on another season, and now comes a summer of uncertainty. One of the biggest questions surrounding the team is the future of longtime head coach Steve Kerr.
Kerr is not under contract for next season. He signed a two-year extension in 2024, but now faces a team with a much murkier outlook. He recently said that he was unsure of his plans moving forward.
According to Nick Friedell and Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, the odds are good that Kerr comes to an agreement with ownership to stay on, though Draymond Green recently expressed his doubts on the matter, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“I hope he’s our coach next season,” Green said. “You want my opinion? I think not. Just because it feels like that. It felt like that was it.”
Slater writes that Kerr is expected to take the next week or two to make his decision. Friedell also notes (via Twitter) that the sentiment from Golden State’s exit interviews was that the players hope Kerr will be on the sidelines next season.
Slater adds that the team is not interested in a “last dance” with this team and coach, but is looking to come back with a refreshed roster and wants a coach with the energy to match (Twitter video link).
We have more Warriors news:
- Green’s name appeared in trade rumors this season. That is unusual for his tenure in Golden State, but it could also be indicative of questions the Warriors are grappling with. Green has a $27MM player option for next season, and Friedell and Thompson write that the team is waiting to see what the former Defensive Player of the Year decides to do before they entertain the idea of trading him. It has been speculated that he is unlikely to test free agency, but the Warriors are light on tradeable deals, so if they want to change the roster, dealing Green would likely be the easiest way to do so. “I’ve never been so uncertain since earlier in my career in what happens next,” Green said, per Slater. “But I’m truly at a loss now because you don’t know what direction will be next. … I also hope I’m on this team next season. We also don’t know that. Man, if it was, what a run.” Discussing how long he hopes to keep playing on a recent podcast, Green said, “I feel great, and I just want to go until I’m done. I think for me, that’s probably another three years,” per Florito Maniego of NBC Sports.
- Brandin Podziemski is hopeful that he’ll be able to get an extension completed with the Warriors this summer, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports. “I want to be here for the long term,” the 23-year-old guard said. “It’s always special having been the team that drafted you.” Friedell and Thompson indicate that there is a desire from the Warriors’ side to bring Podziemski back, despite a sometimes rocky relationship between the young player and the fanbase.
- After a somewhat disappointing season, Al Horford is going to take some time before deciding if he wants to pick up his player option to stay with the Warriors next season, Friedell reports (via Twitter), adding that the 39-year-old expects to play for at least one more year, but isn’t certain that will be the case. Horford averaged 8.3 points and 4.9 rebounds this season, both career lows.
1. Kerr needs to change part of his coaching style in letting young players make mistakes and stop playing old vets. He should have no voice on any trades for a vet.
2. If you were betting Green comes back on a 2 year $40 million deal helping the club take on a free agent in saved money
3. Podz better not be thinking he deserves all star money i wouldn’t give him more than $15 million a year.
4. Al might go back to Celtics is my guess. I have to think somebody is going to offer him a better deal on a 1 year deal.
Kerr really doesn’t have say in trades. He leaves up to Dunleavy. The attempt to acquire George was all Dunleavy. Butler was all Dunleavy. Hell, Kerr didn’t know they signed Santos to an extension until after it happened.
Here’s my VERY EARLY take on what moves I would do:
Extend then trade Podz, and the same for Kristaps. Bring in anyone with size who can complement Steph, all high-IQ guys
Trade Draymond or redo his contract so he makes $10M a year, so theres money for Lebron to come too so he can play with his bestie
Bring in a young coach who knows how to put winning first, Curry next, and everyone else after those two things
Try to acquire Giannis and Trey Murphy III by any means necessary
Draft whoever the best player is and then trade them in the above deals
Go back to sleep lol. Dream isn’t finished yet.
It said -I- would do it. Absolutely nothing I said has a 0% chance of happening. Until that is true, we must address them!
Except this is the wrong sport you can redo a contract on a current deal. Not sure who told you this was possible or where you saw this but here’s some food for thought…I literally googled this and answer is below:
“NBA teams cannot restructure or reduce existing contracts to create cap space, as contracts are fully guaranteed”
In other words, the only way Draymond $27M is coming off is if you trade him out. I like the rest of your post though adding Giannis and Murphy but Giannis will be a Knick and I don’t see Pelicans trading Murphy or Jones. You have better luck getting Zion or Murray than those two.
Green could opt out and take less but he ain’t taking $10 million.
I don’t see Kerr leaving. Biggest decisions are the draft, FA, and cap.
It is funny. In the chat with Luke today, someone brought up Kuminga and the belief that they might decline his option. They said GS poorly developed Kuminga as shown in his poor passing skills. I had to laugh. What a dummy. What do you think was the problem between Kerr and Kuminga. He always wanted to be the main scorer. He would not pass to guys who had better shots. Why do they kept benching him?
Because of all that, Green should benefit from not having to play the 5 anymore. Green is very good at knowing where his teammates have to be. And they needed that with Kuminga as shown by the stats. Green kept getting beat up playing the 5. He won’t be like he was 5 seasons ago. But, the season won’t beat him up.
A healthy seasons of Green and Horford at the 4 could be a bonus for the Warriors. If possible to keep them, they can have Bassey, KP, and Post at the 5. They’ll have money next off season to look a replacement.
They need to find a replacement for Butler. They 25-19 before his injury. They went 12-26 the rest of the way. A big hole to fill. The draft would be a nice place to do it. He could become a mentor.
A center that can play defense.
Moody was the guy to get Jimmy’s minutes, but then his kneecap detached. Moody is also more of a wing than Butler.
IDK, they just need to tread water and stay healthy until Butler comes back.
Honestly, without a big move I can’t see this roster, even when healthy, getting to the WCF. The West is too deep.