Steve Kerr doesn’t have much time to rest.
He has just a few days with family in Southern California before training begins for Team USA Basketball when August begins. The Warriors’ head coach will reprise his role leading the national team for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, with warm-up games in Las Vegas, Spain and the United Arab Emirates before next month’s tournament in the Philippines.
But Kerr paused for a few minutes this week to debrief the Warriors’ busy offseason so far.
On Dunleavy’s offseason moves
Kerr noted that he had been in constant communication with Mike Dunleavy Jr. when it became apparent former general manager Bob Myers was likely to leave his post once his contract ran out and Dunleavy was his likely successor. They got on the same page throughout the season about how the roster needed to change to keep the championship contention window open.
“It’s seamless, really, given that he’s been here the last five years,” Kerr said over the phone. “He’s obviously learned under Bob and he and I have built a relationship over the last few years where we’ve spent a ton of time together. Our wives are friends and it was a best-case scenario for me. If Bob was going to leave, I was hoping Mike would be the guy.”
Dunleavy has been busy this offseason adding more veteran experience to the roster, from trading Jordan Poole for Chris Paul and extending Draymond Green to adding veterans Dario Saric and Cory Joseph.
“He understands that we have a window that’s still open,” he said. “I think he’s fortified our roster with some really good veteran players and veteran leaders and balanced out the roster to where we have a better ratio of vets to young guys.”
Kerr likened the additions of Saric and Joseph to Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica for the 2022 championship season, and even to Zaza Pachulia and David West in previous years.
“We needed guys like Saric and Cory Joseph who have been through the NBA rigors and understand what it means to be a leader from the middle of the roster and how important that is,” Kerr said, later adding, “Mike really recognized that was an area we needed help, so he went out without many resources and fortified our roster and put us in position moving forward.”
There was some concern that there’d be a gap in trust and communication between the front office and Steph Curry, Green, Klay Thompson and perhaps Kerr with Myers leaving. But Kerr noted the continuity — having Dunleavy around for years under Myers’ wing — helped keep trust that he would prioritize maximizing the championship window.
“It’s not an easy position to be in, taking over a team that is at the end of its run and not at the beginning,” Kerr said. “He’s got a big challenge and I think he’s got the faith and the trust of all the players and coaches and front office people. Because we know him well.
“I think he knows we have a pretty special group and not a ton of time. And I think the moves that he’s made this summer have reflected that.”
On Chris Paul’s role
The Warriors have a pretty established starting five of Curry, Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Green and Kevon Looney. Will Chris Paul come off the bench for the first time in his career and lead the second unit?
“All of that will happen in training camp,” Kerr said. “Until we get everyone on the floor, we won’t be able to assess what’s best for our team and how everything is going to look. But I’m very confident that it’s going to work out. We got great guys and we got champions, great competitors. There’s one goal next year, and that’s to win at the highest possible level. Everything else will unfold as the season does.”
Kerr’s personal goals
Kerr is in a contract year, eligible for an extension. Owner Joe Lacob told this news organization those discussions would happen “soon” and that he was “sure we’ll figure something out.”
With a big year ahead, Kerr said he’s focused on some personal coaching goals to get the most out of the team.
“I will say that I feel like I failed last year in connecting the group,” he said. “I have taken a lot of time this summer to think about last year, things I could have and should have done differently. I really believe that sometimes losing sort of forces you to reassess and reevaluate and I’m excited about coming back next year with a renewed focus and energy and spirit from the entire group. And that starts with me and I can’t wait.”
