There’s a growing belief in the Warriors‘ organization that Steve Kerr is seriously considering a new agreement to remain the team’s head coach, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.
No decision was reached as Kerr met with controlling owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. for two hours on Monday. However, Poole cites several signs that Kerr is leaning toward keeping his current job.
Multiple league sources tell Poole that Kerr discussed the future as well as the just-completed season when he met with players and staff members following the team’s elimination from the play-in tournament. Those discussions led to optimism that he’ll be back on the bench next season.
“From what I understand, (Kerr) in those meetings didn’t sound like someone who didn’t plan on coaching next season,” one of Poole’s sources said.
“I think it’s more like 50-50 that he comes back,” another league source told Poole on Wednesday. “When the season ended, I would have said it was at least 60-40 that he’d leave.”
Poole indicated last week that Kerr was leaning toward stepping down, but the situation appears to have changed since then. Poole points toward “increasing belief in recent days” that the longer negotiations continue without a resolution, the more likely Kerr is to stay.
Talks are still ongoing with Lacob and Dunleavy to figure out what a return might look like. Poole states that the factors that will determine Kerr’s final decision include roster construction, management’s plans for the offseason and a compromise on Kerr’s outspokenness on social and political issues. Poole describes Kerr as “uneasy with suppression” of his public statements.
Poole adds that the front office wants Kerr to become more flexible with his coaching tactics, particularly involving younger players, while insisting on more accountability from everyone, including franchise legends Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Poole states that money won’t be a major factor in whether Kerr returns, with sources telling him that this isn’t a negotiating tactic for a higher salary. Poole emphasizes that “professional and personal principles” will ultimately guide Kerr’s decision, and that all the parties involved will have to be aligned before an agreement is reached.
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