Steve Kerr’s new two-year contract with the Warriors was the result of rediscovering his passion for coaching, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN.
Kerr expressed doubts about whether he wanted to continue in the profession following a difficult season that ended with a play-in loss to Phoenix last month. He told reporters after that game that he wasn’t certain if he would be back, noting that “these jobs all have an expiration date” and suggesting it might be time for “new blood and new ideas.”
Sources tell Slater that Kerr took a week off before beginning talks with controlling owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. He then went on a golf trip and returned with a renewed excitement about leading the team.
Kerr would have plenty of media opportunities available if he wanted to transition to a lower-stress environment, but he loves the highly competitive atmosphere of being on the sidelines and was never really happy with front office work, Slater states.
There were other obstacles to reaching a new deal that went beyond Kerr’s desire to return, Slater adds. The discussions with Lacob and Dunleavy went deep into possible changes regarding playing style and staffing as well as the state of the roster following a 37-45 season. The Warriors already know that Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody won’t be available for much of next season as they recover from serious injuries.
Slater cites a “consensus” that Kerr might not have been brought back if management was ready to commit to rebuilding. He adds that there’s an “internal understanding” that the team may not be able to return to title contention with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green nearing the end of their careers, but keeping Kerr is a sign that an effort will be made this summer to become more competitive.
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Slater hears that Curry preferred to keep playing under Kerr as his career winds down, but didn’t make any demands from management. Team sources tell Slater that Curry would likely have been part of the search for a new coach if that had become necessary. There’s also an expectation that keeping Kerr in place will simplify extension talks with Curry when he becomes eligible in August. Curry has one season remaining on his current deal and can be extended for one or two more years.
- With a $27.6MM player option, Green’s future with the team is less certain, but Slater views Kerr’s return as a “beneficial development” toward Green staying. Team sources told Slater that they don’t plan to shop Green this summer or try to force him out, as he’s still seen as an elite defender who raises the team’s chances to be successful. Management believed he had “a positive season as a leader” and essentially became an extra assistant coach, according to Slater. The benefits of opting in or out will be discussed, Slater adds, but a long-term extension at a lower number is only likely if it creates enough cap room to make a significant roster addition.
- The results of today’s draft lottery could play a major role in setting the course for the offseason, Slater notes. Landing a top-four pick would provide a valuable asset that could be used in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard or another star, but it could also deliver an infusion of youth for a team filled with veterans. The Warriors are slotted at No. 11 and have a 9.4% chance of moving up.
Here we go again reporters pretending warriors are trading for some big star player. they have no payroll for a outgoing trade. Nobody is trading for Butler or green unless its a bad contract coming back. Podz is the only player with value in a sign and trade but all he will get you is some vet but not a star.
I think if the Warriors get super lucky and move into the top 4 of the draft lottery and offer to include that pick in a trade, there *might* be a trade to be had if a team is really sold on the top 4 guys. I think it would be a dumb thing for the Warriors to do – especially if they got the first or second pick. But they seem to think they can still compete with a bunch of injury prone, declining, old guys. So I wouldn’t bet against them going for it.
They need to get younger and more athletic so if they did get a top 4 pick they better keep it. Trading it would put the team back not forward.
Anyone would trade for Butler if a top 10 pick was attached to him.
If what you write is true arc, Kerr is not coming back.
Kerr came back with a promise not to trade Butler or Green. I do not understand how you think warriors can trade for a good player when they don’t have any good players with contracts to offset cap space.
So you’re saying the Warriors run the exact same team back?
I don’t think that’s true. I think they improve the roster. They can’t run it back with the same 15 guys, that would not be smart in my opinion.
i don’t see how they can obtain anyone unless they trade Podz. look at the roster who else has value? moody, Butler, and Green very little trade value. Santos, Post, and Richard do not have much value.
NBA will allow it so that they can sell season tickets, nba passes, tv ratings so that sponsors will still be happy. That‘s why it seems artificial, superficial, and show business. They did it with Doncic.
Kerr has a good relationship with Kawhi, Anthony Davis, and Lebron from national team stuff too. Part of locking in Kerr is not only continuity with Steph and Dray but he has familiarity with the three aging stars they could possibly pursue this summer using pick(s) and Butler.
Exactly what I have been saying, although I think AD’s contract is a big obstacle.
Kerr, Lacob, and FO all need to be on the same page. No more drama, no more blaming games, no more dirty home laundry leaks. They simply need to be 100% united. What happened with Kuminga and Poole punch (video investigation), not to mention infamous 2 timelines were embarassing and unacceptable.
Not only did Warriors underperformed the last few yrs, but we have nothing to show for the future. Warriors wasted away all their golden assets and now we have to again wait for few yrs to gather those assets. They can no longer afford to make any more mistakes or else Warriors will never again win another title, let alone reach Finals in our lifetime.
We used to be light years ahead… But no more, not even close. We are way way behind, living in the past.
lacob needs to stay 100 yards away from teh future of the team. Play out the roster with the draft pick and see where they are midseason. The first half will be very tough to stay above .500 even if they trade for some big star. You are never going to beat OKC and Spurs with a bunch of old players. You need to get young players with a bounce in their step.
@Michol you are 100% correct. GSW needs to pick a path and stick to it. They can either go for it and create a superstar team full of old stars and Curry and try and get Curry more rings, or keep this and next years draft pick and build around those 2 players. Curry and Lebron both proved they can put teams on their back on the postseason, but the rest of their rosters were too thin when it mattered, so their seasons ended. Getting more stars and more depth is the only way to the CF.
Teams can’t win every year. Rebuilding is a normal part of being a fan. Dynasties just don’t pop up out of nowhere. It takes time.
i don’t think anything you can say to Davey will change his mind. He thinks the warriors are as good as the Spurs and OKC. next year should be a tank year and then see what happens in 2027 when warriors have a lot of cap space and some good young draft picks.
I agree 100%, but that’s not Warriors are doing. And that is why Warriors have been stagnant and will be for yrs to come. :(
Michol, it’s hard to read that you’ve given up. Well, we will welcome you back in two years after we’ve gone for it. We’re going to miss you.
Hey, you have strong opinions at times and I do too!
I’m just not accustomed to see you as glass half-empty.
I thought you were more a glass half-full type person like I am.
I admit i enjoyed having Butler and appreciated Lacob paying him even though it was contrary to rebuilding…..
I also admit to still being very upset with Warriors screwing up our 3 golden first round pick assets tjat we had in 2020. Gosh, that’s long time ago… that was our chance to extend the dynasty… Finally, KD…. How in the world were we not able to cajole his group not to stay? Mind boggline.
Well, let’s just sit back and enjoy Curry and 2 more yrs of short term band-aid fixes…
Greymond was worried about his own spot on the team. With KD there and his pretty good defense in his own right at the time, they didn’t need Graymond.
So green sabotaged the relationship
Even he knew that His 25 million could’ve been used on an athletic wing or maybe a center instead of a non-shooting defensive anchor.
Why not pursue Jalen Green? Like Arc has previously mentioned, need to get younger and athletic? Who else better to learn from than 30 and Kerr?
I am not even a Jalen Green fan but the warriors have nothing to trade for him. They don’t have a $30 million player to trade and off set the cap space. Warriors hand are tied this season. Next season they will have payroll.
Because he would not “fit” the system, lol
Why would Phoenix trade Jalen Green though? They really should be looking to keep their young players, including Green, and trading their older guys. I doubt Ishbia is ready to trade Booker, but Brooks should be on the table. A deal based on Moody and a pick for Brooks would make sense for both sides.
Can green and booker coexist? Both are usage guys. I think phoenix needs a real PG too.
Jalen Green is a very good player, but he’s not exactly the picture of health that The Warriors need.
They’re already unhealthy because they’re old, I don’t think they’ll bring in a guy that can’t get his body right even at a young age.
Oh it’s just a few guys I think that are available. Nothing concrete on what I said, but the lack of names available in the summer will be interesting to see.
As with any team that wants to get better, it’s going to be very difficult !!
I can’t wait to see how it plays out. Today’s lotto should be interesting and We’ll see if anyone moves up.
Then draft day I hope there’s a ton of wheeling and dealing and maybe the Warriors can come out of it smelling like a rose. Fingers crossed.
Nothing wrong with the Jalen Green suggestion. That’s exactly a name who a team may want to deal away and he’s under 30.
Kerr just saved the warriors next season. Still a R-1 or R2 exit tho. Without Kerr they are a bottom 10 lotto.
Sometimes you need to take a step back to be great again.