The Warriors were linked to LeBron James, explored the trade market for Jaylen Brown and spent much of the summer at the center of blockbuster speculation. Yet when the offseason settled, Golden State had largely chosen continuity over aggression, leaving many wondering whether the franchise was protecting its future or wasting what remains of Curry’s championship window.

Kerr, however, insisted the quiet offseason was entirely intentional. Speaking to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors coach said, “You have to understand your place in the league and where everybody else is and what the future looks like. Mike is really smart and prudent. He understands the landscape. Joe’s in agreement on that. We’re all pretty much really on the same page in terms of just being wise… [Sometimes] not making a move can be the best thing to do for your future. And you keep stacking up good moves and eventually you pounce when you’re ready.”

Kerr’s comments also clarified another offseason talking point. Explaining the viral Summer League clip in which he joked, “Oh, we got him,” when asked about LeBron James, Kerr later told Slater, “I was having a little fun. I didn’t even think we were realistically in the running for LeBron. It’s just that everyone kept saying we were. It never seemed serious to me despite all the reports.”

That philosophy comes at a pivotal point for Golden State. The Warriors are coming off a 37-45 season that ended in the Play-In Tournament, while Curry enters his 18th NBA season with the franchise still trying to build another contender around him. Following the season, Curry struck a measured tone, saying, “We don’t have to keep saying ‘championship, championship, championship’ every day… Can we build the foundation again?”

Rather than chasing another blockbuster, the Warriors prioritized roster depth and financial flexibility. They drafted Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick, re-signed Draymond Green to a one-year, $27.7 million contract, retained Al Horford, extended Kristaps Porziņģis on a trade-friendly deal and signed De’Anthony Melton, while keeping their long-term payroll and draft assets largely intact.

The strategy preserves flexibility, but it also leaves unanswered questions entering the season. Jimmy Butler continues his recovery from a torn ACL, while Golden State’s aging core will again shoulder much of the burden early in the year. The organization believes preserving flexibility today positions it to strike when a true franchise-changing player becomes available.

Why Golden State chose patience over blockbuster moves

Despite speculation surrounding several stars, Golden State’s biggest offseason decision ultimately became the one it didn’t make. According to Slater, the Warriors consistently prioritized preserving future draft capital over sacrificing long-term flexibility for moves they viewed as short-term upgrades.

One of the clearest examples came during discussions with the Boston Celtics involving Jaylen Brown. According to Slater, Boston’s asking price included four unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and young rotation pieces. Golden State ultimately declined, determining that the cost conflicted with its long-term asset strategy.

That decision reflected a broader organizational philosophy rather than hesitation over Brown himself. Kerr explained the Warriors believe in “stacking up good moves” until the right opportunity arrives instead of exhausting future assets for a move they don’t view as transformational.

The same approach shaped Golden State’s pursuit of LeBron James. The Warriors presented a formal recruitment pitch built around pairing James with Curry, but internally never believed they were serious favorites. “I didn’t even think we were realistically in the running for LeBron,” Kerr told Slater. “It never seemed serious to me despite all the reports.” Team sources also indicated communication from James’ camp faded before his eventual decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers.

Whether Golden State’s patience proves wise will ultimately be judged by results. Kerr insists the organization is preserving its flexibility for the right moment, while Curry continues to focus on “building the foundation again.” If that next opportunity arrives, the Warriors believe they’ll have the assets to act. If it doesn’t, questions about whether they maximized the final years of Curry’s championship window will only grow louder.

The post Steve Kerr Addresses Warriors’ Direction With Stephen Curry After Failed LeBron James and Jaylen Brown Pursuit appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Breaking his silence via ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Kerr offered a candid assessment regarding the Warriors’ rumored pursuit of James before the four-time champion ultimately chose the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.

“I didn’t even think we were realistically in the running for LeBron,” Kerr told Slater. “It’s just that everyone kept saying we were. It never seemed serious to me despite all the reports.”

Slater spoke to Kerr two days ago, after Bron made his announcement and the league had time to adjust around it.

He made it clear that despite the relentless public chatter, partially fueled by Kerr himself joked, “Oh, we got him…put that on Twitter.”

The clip spread quickly across social media and left millions wondering if the Dubs coach had accidentally revealed something he should not have. In the moment, it looked like Kerr had let a major secret slip, and fans rushed to connect his words to LeBron’s next move.

In reality, the situation played out very differently. An offseason move involving LeBron James was always going to be nearly impossible to hide, and his eventual decision to join the 76ers became public as soon as it was finalized. As the deal took shape, podcasters and analysts worked overtime to parse every hint about the superstar’s landing spot, but a move that significant never stayed under wraps for long. However, as it turns out, the Warriors never viewed a deal as a realistic possibility.

“The pitch is we want to play good basketball and be around people that know how to play the game,” Stephen Curry said at the time.

Later on Good Morning America, he explained, “The Bay, we know how to win, beautiful weather, great golf… I think that he would enjoy just the idea of what it means to finish your career the right way.”

Taking a closer look: Golden State’s calculated approach extended directly into how they handled Draymond Green’s contract situation. Green initially declined his $27.7 million player option to maximize the team’s cap flexibility during free agency. Still, after James committed to Philadelphia, Green re-signed on an identical one-year, $27.7 million deal.

When James ultimately chose the Philadelphia 76ers, the Warriors shifted quickly back toward stability. Within days of that decision, Draymond and Golden State agreed to a new one-year, $27.7 million contract that matched the value of the option he had turned down, and multiple outlets noted that the deal did not include a no-trade clause, keeping the front office free to reassess at the trade deadline if the season took an unexpected turn.

The structure of the deal highlighted both the trust and leverage in the relationship. Green, heading into what will be his 15th season with the franchise, extended one of the league’s longest active player–team partnerships, second only to Curry among current Warriors, while the identical salary figure underscored how the team managed to honor a foundational piece of its dynasty and still preserve the flexibility to pivot if another superstar opportunity appears down the line.

Addressing the situation on ESPN’s NBA Today, Slater revealed that Golden State’s front office never halted its offseason plans while waiting on James.

While the Warriors would have welcomed the all-time leading scorer on a team-friendly minimum or mid-level exception contract, Kerr and the front office always intended to preserve the core group while keeping their future options open.

They’ve jarringly not been active in the free agency market despite being attached to the Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron sweepstakes. Other than retaining Green, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and De’Anthony Melton, they’re focused on Steph Curry’s extension.

As Slater detailed, locking Green into a single-year agreement preserves pristine books for the franchise moving forward. The Warriors currently hold just $34.9 million in committed payroll for the 2027–28 season, granting them maximum financial pivotability.

“It keeps the books really clean,” Slater noted regarding the Warriors’ strategy not signing new players. “Look again, flexibility, optionality, all the terms that I think make followers of the Warriors cringe.”

With James taking his talents to Philadelphia to form a formidable Eastern Conference force alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown, Golden State faces a daunting path in a stacked West featuring rising powers like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

However, the Dubs aren’t without reinforcements. The Warriors are anticipating the midseason return of Jimmy Butler as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury suffered last season, giving Kerr a proven playoff force alongside Curry and Green.

Rather than making a reactive panic trade after missing out on James, Kerr and the Warriors front office remain committed to their structured timeline, trusting that financial clarity and internal health will pave the best road ahead.

The post “Never Seemed Serious”: Steve Kerr Breaks Silence on Missing Out on LeBron James to 76ers appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Stopping to greet fans, Kerr, who was in his car, replied, “We got him.”

You could hear the excitement erupt after the Warriors coach gave bystanders a ‘wait what?’ moment. However, Kerr quickly followed it up with a request.

“Don’t put that on Twitter,” he said with a wide smirk.

The clip immediately spread across social media, leaving millions wondering whether the Dubs coach had accidentally revealed something that he shouldn’t have.

The reality, however, hints at something different…

An offseason trade involving LeBron James is nearly impossible to hide. While podcasters and analysts are already working overtime to decode the superstar’s potential landing spot, such a major update simply can’t go unnoticed. So far, none of the NBA’s top news breakers, including Shams Charania, have reported any agreement between James and the Warriors.

And in today’s league, silence from insiders usually means there’s no smoke. But that doesn’t mean the Warriors have disappeared from the conversation. According to the latest developments in the James free agency saga, the 41-year-old has gathered enough information to make a final call.

According to Charania, Bron is nearing “decision time,” and the Dubs are still among the finalists along with the Cavaliers, Heat, Sixers, and Minnesota Timberwolves. He also reported that James is at a point in his career where money won’t be the main factor in choosing his next team.

“Some of them have been able to send a voice note to LeBron James via Rich Paul,” the insider mentioned. “It’s unclear whether Cleveland or Miami has been among the teams that have sent a voice note to LeBron via Rich Paul. Again, they kind of don’t need to. They already had him in their buildings.”

Amid this situation, James’ recent public appearance only reinforced his patient approach. James spent time on the golf course with Kevin Hart and Warriors forward Draymond Green. Ideally, Green’s presence should spark new recruiting theories. It did, in a way. But the outing hardly resembled an intense private recruitment session. They joked around, with the Warriors veteran joining James in roasting Hart’s golf game. If anything, it was just an offseason retreat.

And Kerr’s comments didn’t just spark theories, but also showcased his well-known personality. Long before he became one of the league’s most successful coaches, Kerr was known for his quick wit.

During the Chicago Bulls’ 1997 championship celebration, he famously joked that Michael Jordan was too nervous to take the game-winner in Game 6 and claimed he had bailed him out. The crowd immediately understood the sarcasm and erupted in laughter. Interestingly, Jordan didn’t mind that joke too.

That’s just who Kerr is. He’s always carried his wit with him. It’s remained part of Kerr’s public personality throughout his coaching career as well. This little piece of history makes his latest interaction easier to understand. Rolling down his window, joking that the Warriors had already signed LeBron James, and immediately telling fans not to post it online, felt less like a cryptic hint and more like another example of Kerr’s quick wit at the traffic signal.

Importantly, Kerr is also an admirer of James. Not too long ago, he called him “the greatest scorer in the history of the NBA.”

“LeBron’s brilliance doesn’t lie in the same skill set that Michael’s did,” the Warriors coach told The New Yorker. “It lies in more of a holistic game where he dominates with his pace, his athleticism, and his passing. I’ve always felt scoring is secondary for LeBron.”

Back in 2024, Kerr also expressed huge praise when he coached the dynamic duo of James and Stephen Curry to win Olympic Gold with Team USA.

“What a blessing to coach him finally, after all these years of coaching against him and trying to figure out how to beat him,” Kerr said. “To watch him up close, I’ve said this these past few weeks. Just to see his approach, his professionalism, how coachable he is. Then, of course, how gifted he is at everything.”

Kerr also considered himself “a LeBron fan for life.”

Kerr and Green aren’t the only Warriors folks to have a good rapport with James. Even Curry does. Over the past two weeks, the Dubs’ sharpshooter has repeatedly said he wants to play alongside the 41-year-old. Curry even joked about having a golf contest with him first. However, besides Green’s meetup, the Baby-Faced Assassin also publicly pitched to James, driven solely by non-financial motives.

“The pitch is: Do you want to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game?” Curry told reporters. “Raise our floor, competitiveness… We’re an organization that’s been there [winning championships]. He knows that, and that’s really self-explanatory. It’s just a matter of where he sees himself fitting. And at the end of the day, that’s up to him.”

So, yes, for now, the main story hasn’t changed. James still faces a decision, and several contenders are still in the running. Until Charania or another insider reports an agreement, Kerr’s roadside joke remains a comedy until James himself actually breaks his silence.

The post Steve Kerr Has 3-Word Response to Fans Asking About LeBron James Joining the Warriors appeared first on EssentiallySports.

NBA legend Tracy McGrady joined the conversation on The Cousins podcast, suggesting that there’s more that meets the eye.

“This is my theory,” McGrady said. “I only have two teams that he can go … Go to the Cavs. … I looked at Steve Kerr, who was on his way out, was about to retire. And then he comes and signs a two-year deal.”

“I thought he was coming back to this, and then he signs a two-year deal. I’m like, something’s brewing, bro. Something’s cooking up for him to sign that deal because you’re not getting any younger, right, and the way you guys ended last year, it’s just like it felt like it was over for them.”

Golden State’s 2025-26 season ended well below expectations. They finished 37-45 and missed the playoffs after losing in the Play-In Tournament, entering the offseason needing another star alongside Stephen Curry – LeBron James.

James’ future has become one of the NBA’s biggest storylines, and the Golden State Warriors remain one of the teams most consistently linked to him. While no deal or commitment has been reported, multiple insiders have indicated that the Warriors are waiting on James’ decision.

One of the more interesting developments has been Steve Kerr agreeing to a new two-year extension. Officially, the extension simply keeps Kerr in charge of the Warriors beyond next season. Unofficially, many observers believe it sends another message.

Reuters reported that the Warriors responded by strengthening Kerr’s coaching staff, hiring former Lakers championship coach Frank Vogel as associate head coach. Vogel’s arrival also gives the Warriors another coach with an established relationship with James after they won the 2020 NBA title together in Los Angeles.

While there has been no credible report stating Steve Kerr signed the extension specifically to convince LeBron James, the timing has now fueled speculation because it removes uncertainty about the franchise’s leadership during what could be the final years of James’ career.

During the American Century Championship golf tournament, Stephen Curry made perhaps his strongest public recruiting pitch yet. He said that he “would love to play with him (LeBron).” He also added: “Hopefully it happens.”

Curry acknowledged that the idea, which once seemed impossible because of their rivalry, would now be an incredible opportunity. He stressed, however, that James has earned the right to decide on his own timetable.

The post NBA Legend Senses Conspiracy Around Steve Kerr’s Return & LeBron James’ Warriors Rumor: “Something’s Brewing” appeared first on EssentiallySports.

His addition to the team at this stage and head coach Steve Kerr’s approach to using his rookies clash, though. Kerr is known for relying heavily on his veteran players, while first-year players tend to ride the bench. Despite that knowledge, Lendeborg is confident that he can immediately contribute to the team given their current state.

During an interview, Lendeborg was asked what kind of conversations he’s had with the Warriors coach so far.

“Basically it’s about expectations of what he expects out of me,” the rookie replied. “He doesn’t normally play rookies as much, he has a history of that. But the way the team is looking now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start.”

Lendeborg added that having this knowledge fuels him and gives him extra motivation to contribute and build his identity right away.

The Warriors currently have a shortage of wings on their roster. They do have Jimmy Butler, but there is no timeline for when he’ll return. He is expected to miss a significant part of next season as he recovers from the ACL tear he suffered in January.

There’s also 6-foot-5 wingman Moses Moody, who is also out with an injury. He sustained a torn patellar tendon and had surgery for it in March. Similar to Butler, there is no definite timetable for a return yet.

Then, there’s 6-foot-7 forward Gui Santos. Kerr gave him several chances to start, as he was part of the starting five in 30 of the 68 games he played last season. As a starter averaging a little over 30 minutes per game, he posted 14.8 points, 5.6 boards, and 3.6 assists.

Kerr could alternate between Santos and Lendeborg early in the season to see who best fits his game plan. Of course, those plans can be altered should more injuries occur.

Yaxel Lendeborg on his early conversations with Steve Kerr: “He doesn’t normally play rookies as much. He has a history of that. But the way the team is looking right now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start.” pic.twitter.com/Vm1DXhkjUO

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 26, 2026

If Yaxel Lendeborg gets the starting lineup nod early on from Steve Kerr, he will have a chance to show the coaching staff and the fans the identity he wants to build. Something that the rookie already seems to have thought of very well.

Yaxel Lendeborg Shares What Kind of Role He’ll Play for the Warriors Amidst Injury Concerns

While Yaxel Lendeborg is ready to compete immediately, there are concerns about an injury he sustained during Michigan’s title run. He sprained his ankle and suffered a bone bruise during the NCAA tournament, but it seems he’s all ready to go.

Per Anthony Slater, the Warriors’ rookie is all prepped and ready to go, and he plans to play in the annual NBA Summer League. Slater also mentioned that the injury took four weeks to fully heal and is no longer a concern.

While Lendeborg will get a chance to prove himself this summer, he’s already looking ahead to how he can contribute to the main roster.

During the same interview in which he acknowledged Steve Kerr’s tendencies with rookies, he discussed what he can do should he be given playing time.

According to Lendeborg, he can be a secondary ball handler that the team needs alongside Stephen Curry. He also talked about his versatility, saying he wants to prove he can be trusted to defend the opposing team’s best player as a 3-and-D guy.

Finally, he showed a willingness to adapt to the team’s needs by acknowledging that he can step into whatever is needed when Kerr rolls out different lineups.

The post “Doesn’t Normally Play Rookies”: Yaxel Lendeborg Reveals Steve Kerr’s Exception for Him After Meeting Over Warriors Plan appeared first on EssentiallySports.

As the 2026 NBA Draft approaches, Bay Area insiders at Warriors Today have identified an NCAA standout that the Warriors are reportedly targeting with the No. 11 pick, making him one of the most intriguing names to watch for Golden State.

The University of Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg probably has the No. 11 pick by Golden State in the bag.

Fresh off anchoring the Wolverines to the 2026 NCAA championship right after transferring from UAB, the 23-year-old Big Ten Player of the Year has consistently topped scouting reports as the premier “win-now” asset in the class. The analysts at Warriors Today emphasized his plug-and-play skillset with some heavy comparisons.

“He’s got shades of Aaron Gordon. Certainly, this level of Aaron Gordon that we’re seeing now relative to the dunk contest version back in 2016. Jerami Grant and Mikal Bridges, he’s got shades of them in his game as well. Just a really efficient player, smart player, and got a really, really high defensive floor that I’m looking forward to seeing at the next level.”

The Aaron Gordon comparison is more about function than style. The analysts were referring to the version of Gordon that helped Denver win a championship, not the athlete who became famous through dunk contests. Gordon’s value comes from defending multiple positions, rebounding, finishing plays, and making quick decisions without needing the ball in his hands. Those are many of the same traits scouts point to when evaluating Lendeborg. He projects as a versatile forward who can fit next to established stars and contribute without being a primary scorer. The Mikal Bridges and Jerami Grant comparisons follow the same logic.

2026 Yaxel Lendeborg pic.twitter.com/JDqikQ67r8

— Pitless (@pitlessball) April 7, 2026

At the time of the Warriors’ supposed interest, reports emerged that Lendeborg’s workouts are not going great. They claim there’s a high chance he’d drop in the draft. Unless the Warriors are dead-set on using their only first-round pick on him, there might not be much competition to get him.

The analysts noted that if he were three years younger, he’d be a top 5 pick. Yet they believe his ceiling is high for a 23-year-old.

Yaxel Lendeborg’s rare skillset makes him vital to the Warriors

Lendeborg’s championship run at Michigan proves he’s got prime Aaron Gordon’s basketball IQ in combination with sheer physical maturity that could match a seasoned NBA layer ready to step into a playoff rotation tomorrow. He could fit in Steve Kerr’s veteran-centric system while bringing the young energy the front office is looking for.

Standing nearly 6’9″ without shoes, sporting a massive 7’3″ wingspan, and weighing a sturdy 240 pounds, Yaxel Lendeborg possesses the ideal physical profile to compete against elite NBA frontcourts. During the NCAA tournament, he showed off-ball defensive skillset well beyond that of a college player. He played a role on the Wolverines squad that a mature and elite Aaron Gordon perfected alongside Nikola Jokic in Denver.

On the offensive end, Lendeborg runs the floor and is a force in the paint, converting a near 67% of his attempts directly at the rim. Much like Gordon, Lendeborg is an incredibly efficient and unselfish secondary playmaker.

Why does that matter to the Warriors? Steve Kerr doesn’t want any player (*cough* Kuminga *cough*) taking the ball away from Steph Curry. The Dubs need a connector like Mikal Bridges and Jerami Grant in their rotation, two players Warriors Today compare Lendeborg to.

As Curry has worked very well with bigs like Kristaps Porzingis, Lendeborg’s 7’3 wingspan will make him an impactful defender who stretches the floor, as he did in the NCAA. While they wait for Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody to come back from their injuries, Lendeborg provides a seamless solution to Steve Kerr’s rotation needs.

The post “Shades of Aaron Gordon”: 2026 NCAA Champion Emerges as Ideal Fit for Warriors’ No.11 Pick Ahead of NBA Draft appeared first on EssentiallySports.

During a recent conversation with John Mallory, global co-head of Wealth Management, Clark opened up about the skills she still prioritizes in practice even after becoming one of the biggest stars in basketball.

“I think if you go and watch any professional basketball player workout, they always start with the fundamentals,” she explained. “Like, it’s form shooting. It’s the same thing I did when I first started playing basketball. You start with the simple things.”

However, Clark was quick to credit Curry rather than herself which she made pretty clear. She implied how the younger generation’s obsession with shooting is hurting the development of the basics.

“I think ball handling is a really lost art. I always tell kids, be able to dribble. Be able to pass. Everybody’s so worried about shooting threes. Which is probably, you know, Steph Curry’s fault. It’s not my fault. But everybody wants to be able to do that,” she added.

“But I think it’s all the little things that kind of get lost. And just doing the little things can get you a long way. Because it’s not something that people really want to spend time on anymore.”

The Steph Curry effect has already become a well-known conversation in basketball circles over the last decade. Trainers constantly warn young players against obsessing over difficult perimeter shots before mastering basic footwork, passing, and ball control. But ironically, much like Curry, Caitlin Clark has inspired an entire generation of young players to start launching deep threes long before they fully develop the rest of their game.

However, let’s take a look at how Curry changed the sport. Back during Curry’s first NBA season in 2009-10, teams averaged just over 18 three-point attempts per game. Today, most NBA teams heavily lean on a three-pointer so the attempts from beyond the arc have bumped up to 35 and 40 every night.

But what often gets overlooked is that players like Curry and Clark built their shooting ability on top of elite fundamentals first.

Despite all the viral highlights fans see online, elite players usually spend the beginning of workouts doing the simplest drills imaginable. One-handed form shooting near the rim, stationary ball-handling, footwork repetition, and short-range touch shots remain the foundation of almost every NBA and WNBA training session.

And honestly, that was probably the biggest point Clark was trying to make. The flashy part of basketball may grab attention now more than ever, but the players who actually survive at the highest level still rely on the fundamentals most young athletes are starting to ignore.

But that’s where the debate begins.

The Three-Point Era Still Has Basketball Divided

For years now, basketball legends and analysts have argued over one simple question: has the three-point revolution actually made the game better?

If you were to ask Charles Barkley, the answer would be a hard “No”. Just like Caitlin Clark, Barkley has repeatedly called out younger players for trying to copy elite shooters without first developing the rest of their game.

“Steph Curry and Klay Thompson ruined the NBA because everybody thinks they’re Steph and Klay,” Barkley said back in February. “Y’all are not them. Stop jacking up threes.”

But what’s even more interesting is that even Steve Kerr – the coach who helped build the Golden State dynasty around shooting – has admitted the analytics movement may have pushed things too far.

Kerr admitted that the modern game has almost erased the mid-range shot, turning it into what he called a “no man’s land.” He even joked that he would consider removing the three-point line entirely just to diversify the way basketball gets played again.

Yet at the same time, there are supporters of this revolution, too.

By forcing defenses to guard players far beyond the arc, modern spacing opened driving lanes and created opportunities for smaller, highly skilled guards to dominate the sport. Players like Stephen Curry, Caitlin Clark, and Sabrina Ionescu became proof that elite skill and shooting could overpower pure size and physicality.

So, considering the debate around this topic, Clark’s comments probably land somewhere right in the middle.

She is not criticizing shooting threes themselves. After all, her own shooting skills made her one of the greats. She is more focused on what young players skip while trying to reach those highlights too quickly. Because behind every three-pointer that makes the fans jump out of their seats, there are still years of basic ball-handling, passing drills, and repetitive fundamentals that made those shots possible in the first place.

But what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!

The post “Probably Steph Curry’s Fault”: Caitlin Clark Shares Thoughts on Basketball’s ‘Lost Art’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.

According to Anthony Slater, Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse are ready for a new chapter in their careers, which means the Warriors just lost two well-respected basketball minds.

The team, however, no longer needs to worry about finding a head coach since Kerr will stay, but it still needs to find assistants. Specifically, the Warriors need to look for a lead assistant, a position Stotts previously held. The team did not share a complete list of candidates, but reports suggest they considered recently fired head coach Jamahl Mosley.

However, they missed their chance to bring him on board. On Monday, league insider Shams Charania reported that the New Orleans Pelicans have hired him.

Mosley joins a Pelicans squad that did not have a permanent head coach after 12 games into the 2025-26 season. The franchise’s front office fired Willie Green after a 2-10 start and hired James Borrego in an interim role, but the team did not fare any better under him. They went 24-46 for the remainder of the season, finishing at 26-56.

Mosley coached with the Orlando Magic for the last five seasons and led the team to some regular-season success. But the franchise failed to reach the postseason twice in his first two seasons coaching there. However, the Magic never enjoyed postseason success. Whichever team they faced in the first round of the playoffs sent them packing.

The Magic fired Mosley amid reports of misunderstanding with his players, a day after their most recent playoff disappointment.

Jamahl Mosley was among those the Warriors were looking at for their vacant lead assistant job, but he lands another HC opportunity with the Pelicans https://t.co/nuWz4Ccuv2

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 18, 2026

But the Warriors still need assistants and a lead assistant. Thankfully for them, they have a long time before training camp starts.

The Warriors are considering Andre Iguodala for the open assistant role

The Warriors need to get younger and add another star to pair with Stephen Curry. Reports suggest they are eyeing Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo for that distinction.

The Warriors also need to find effective assistant coaches now that Mosley is no longer an option. One of the rumored options is four-time Warriors champion Andre Iguodala.

Iguodala is a well-loved player in the Bay Area. Fans remember him fondly as a selfless veteran and defensive stalwart who helped turn them into a championship team. The Warriors consider him a franchise legend, retiring his jersey in 2025, joining six others.

His experience and connections to the Warriors could help them bounce back. Curry could actually get another legitimate title opportunity if these things go right for the Warriors.

The post Steve Kerr Missed Out on Veteran Coaching Addition After 2 Key Warriors Exits: Reports appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Soon, the drama surrounding Kuminga wasn’t just dominating basketball circles anymore – it had reached people far outside the locker room.

‘What’s gonna happen with Kuminga?’

That was the question former President Barack Obama casually tossed at Steve Kerr during a dinner in Aspen last summer – proof that the Kuminga saga had grown far beyond a normal contract dispute. Kerr later admitted he laughed at the moment because he never expected Obama to immediately bring up the Warriors forward upon seeing him.

Kerr said, “That was when he was a free agent, that was last summer. We have a mutual friend, and we had dinner and literally walked up and said, ‘What’s gonna happen with Kuminga?’ He was talking about the contract.”

What made the interaction fascinating wasn’t necessarily the question itself – it was what the question represented. By that point, Kuminga’s uncertain standing with the Warriors had become symbolic of a much larger issue surrounding the franchise: whether Golden State could realistically compete for championships with Stephen Curry while also developing young talent. Obama, like many around the league, was essentially asking the same thing fans had debated for months.

Kuminga, whom the Warriors drafted No. 7 overall in 2021, consistently flashed elite athleticism and scoring upside, but the fit inside Kerr’s offense never fully stabilized. Kuminga thrived in transition, downhill attacks, and isolation-heavy possessions, while Kerr’s system prioritized spacing, quick reads, constant off-ball movement, and role discipline around Curry. The philosophical disconnect lingered for years and eventually became impossible to ignore.

Negotiations only added more tension. As extension talks dragged through the offseason, Kuminga searched for a larger role, while the Warriors hesitated to fully commit financially to a player Kerr still struggled to maximize. Trade conversations surfaced repeatedly, but Golden State resisted moving him until the relationship finally deteriorated beyond repair.

Q: Steve, what did Obama want to know about Kuminga?

Steve Kerr: pic.twitter.com/posVx5l8mM

— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) May 15, 2026

The fit concerns also appeared statistically. Lineups featuring Kuminga alongside Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green struggled badly in limited playoff action, posting a -36 net rating across 105 minutes. Without Kuminga, that same core reportedly jumped to +180 over a significantly larger sample. While small-sample lineup data can sometimes be misleading, it reinforced growing concerns about spacing and rotational chemistry.

Eventually, the two sides reached a temporary resolution when Kuminga signed a two-year, $46.8 million contract with a 2026-27 club option before his qualifying offer deadline expired. At the time, many expected the agreement to reset the relationship between player and franchise.

Instead, the tension only deepened.

Kuminga’s scoring average later dropped to 12.1 points per game, and he appeared in just 20 games before falling out of the regular rotation entirely. By January, the relationship had reportedly deteriorated enough for Kuminga to request a trade on the first day he became eligible to do so. Before the deadline, Golden State finally ended the experiment by sending Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis.

Steve Kerr will work on plans that he never made for Jonathan Kuminga

Golden State enters the offseason holding the No. 11 pick in what many executives view as one of the deepest draft classes in recent years. But unlike previous seasons, the Warriors may no longer have the luxury of slowly developing young talent behind established veterans. Jimmy Butler is expected to miss significant time recovering from a torn ACL, while Moses Moody is also working his way back from injury.

“It’s obvious where we are with the injuries to Moses [Moody] and Jimmy [Butler], you look at our depth on the wings, [the No. 11 pick] has to play. He’s gotta earn it, but we’re committed to the development of our young players,” said the Warriors head coach.

That statement carried extra weight because of everything that happened with Kuminga. For years, critics questioned whether Kerr truly trusted young players enough to let them develop through mistakes. The Kuminga saga amplified those criticisms louder than ever.

Now, with the Warriors entering a transitional phase around an aging core, Kerr appears determined to show that the organization has learned from one of the most polarizing player-development stories of his tenure. Whether the Warriors changed too late, or whether Kuminga simply was never the right fit for their system, will remain one of the defining “what ifs” of Golden State’s post-dynasty era.

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That tension sits at the center of Golden State’s draft approach. The front office knows the pick carries real value in a class loaded with NBA-ready depth, but the Warriors also can’t afford another developmental project that stays glued to the bench. Injuries to key rotation wings only sharpened that reality late in the season, forcing the organization to think about impact over patience. Steve Kerr made that expectation clear while discussing the role of the incoming rookie.

“It’s obvious where we are with the injuries to Moses [Moody] and Jimmy [Butler], you look at our depth on the wings, [the No. 11 pick] has to play. He’s gotta earn it, but we’re committed to the development of our young players,” said the Warriors head coach.

Kerr was transparent in admitting his flaws in recent seasons. After the Jonathan Kuminga break-up, he has renewed his stance on using the draft for impact players. However, having missed the playoffs, the top brass is pushing to have a competitive season. Injuries killed their momentum. But since time isn’t on their side, Mike Dunleavy isn’t shutting down any options.

“In a strong draft, we feel like we can get a good player. But we’ll look at everything. If there’s offers for the pick to move up, move back, trade for a veteran player who can help us, we’ll look at all that stuff,” said the Warriors general manager.

Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy on their No. 11 pick in 2026 NBA Draft:

“In a strong draft, we feel like we can get a good player. But we’ll look at everything. If there’s offers for the pick to move up, move back, trade for a veteran player who can help us, we’ll look at all that…

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 15, 2026

The Warriors have already learned how difficult it is to balance championship urgency with long-term development. Their “two timelines” approach once centered on lottery picks like James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga, but both experiments eventually exposed the limits of trying to compete for titles while simultaneously grooming raw prospects.

Wiseman never carved out a consistent role before Golden State moved him in 2023, while Kuminga’s trajectory became increasingly complicated as the franchise prioritized veterans around Stephen Curry’s shrinking championship window. That history gives extra weight to Steve Kerr’s insistence that the No. 11 pick must contribute immediately rather than develop slowly behind the scenes.

It also explains why Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s willingness to explore trade scenarios should be taken seriously. Golden State has repeatedly shown a readiness to attach draft capital to win-now moves, including the Chris Paul trade and more recent veteran-focused roster decisions. The organization’s recent strategy suggests future assets are no longer untouchable if a proven contributor becomes available.

That makes this year’s pick more than just a developmental gamble. For the Warriors, it represents another crossroads between maximizing Curry’s remaining title years and preparing for whatever comes after them.

The Warriors have the cap space to make a major move in the summer. The most enticing free agent, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is available for grabs. Furthermore, Porzingis’ exit has freed up $30 million in spending power. From a business perspective, Dunleavy could miss out on a decisive opportunity by limiting the pick’s potential.

They could package four first-round picks to add a star to pair with a stranded Stephen Curry. Injuries have deepened this urgency. Jimmy Butler sat well beside Curry, but he will miss significant time before returning from a torn ACL. Moses Moody, who had a breakout season averaging 12.1 points, will also return late next year. This is their chance to go all-in to move closer towards a championship push.

As constructed, the top hierarchy isn’t keeping title aspirations. Steve Kerr is also keen on getting back to winning ways.

Steve Kerr talks about regaining focus

The Golden State Warriors have missed the postseason two out of four seasons since claiming the NBA championship. By their standards, it’s been an underwhelming stretch, yet to get past the second round. This season, injuries derailed the entire season. However, Steve Kerr does feel the irregularities make the team complacent.

“I think it looks like recommitting to our values and our process. I think the last couple of years, frankly, have been difficult with the age, the collective age, of our team, the injuries. I think we had, like, six guys this year who either couldn’t play back-to-backs or were on minutes restrictions — often at the same time. “I think I really, frankly, gave everyone too much leeway this year,” Kerr told The New York Times.

While there’s no real expectation to win, Kerr doesn’t want to compromise on the franchise’s culture. They are a fading dynasty that wants to go down fighting. Stephen Curry is expected to be close to fully healthy by the time training camp starts in September. What Kerr wants to see is the team showing competitive spirit.

The 37-win season did help discover gems within the team. Gui Santos is a dynamic forward who gave the team a scoring punch. Will Richard impressed Steve Kerr as a rookie. They don’t have the decorated pieces they once had. But there are some great things to work with. What the Warriors do with their pick could decide their fate next season.

If they work well, the players could help the franchise secure another playoff berth.

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