The Warriors face pivotal offseason as Steve Kerr weighs future
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San Francisco — Steve Kerr’s ninth season ended Friday night with a 111-96 play-in loss to the Phoenix Suns, and the Golden State Warriors now head into an offseason crowded with questions that begin with their head coach’s future.
Kerr, 60, is entering the final year of his contract after deliberately passing on an extension last summer. He told reporters he will meet with controlling owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy within “a week or two” to decide whether he will return. Management wants a swift resolution so it can address roster moves and possible staff changes, team sources said.
Kerr’s decision sets the tone
Should Kerr stay, the front office plans to discuss adjustments to the coaching staff and offensive philosophy, including diversifying the attack and reducing reliance on three-point variance. If he steps away, Golden State is expected to conduct a broad coaching search that could reach into the college ranks, though there is internal concern about pairing an inexperienced coach with veterans Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
Kerr acknowledged the possibility of an organizational reset, saying, “These jobs all have an expiration date. When the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.”
Veteran core, aging payroll
The team’s salary sheet is dominated by its stars. Curry, 38, has one year and $62.6 million left and is eligible for a two-year extension this summer. He said he intends to play “multiple” more seasons and is “for sure” open to talks. Butler, 36, is rehabbing a torn ACL and will earn $56.8 million in the final season of his deal; he cannot sign an extension until next February. Green, 36, holds a $27.6 million player option for 2026-27 and could seek a decline-and-extend arrangement for longer security.
Despite trade-deadline discussions that included Green’s name in proposals for Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources insist there is no mandate to move the veteran forward. Green said, “I still love to play. I hope I’ve done enough to be here.”
Injuries derailed 2025-26 campaign
Golden State finished 37-45, its third straight trip to the play-in and second playoff miss in three years. Butler’s January ACL tear and Curry’s 27-game absence with persistent right-knee pain contributed to a 13-15 start and continued late-game struggles. “Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong this year,” Green said.
The Warriors went 12-4 after their early slump, but the surge barely moved them in the standings. Kerr pointed to Butler’s injury as the season’s turning point: “Jimmy’s injury changed everything. It derailed us.”
Front-office stability, lottery hopes
Dunleavy recently signed an extension, reinforcing management continuity amid outside speculation linking him to Chicago. Internally, the Warriors praise his drafting and direct style. The franchise holds the 11th-best lottery odds — a 9.4% chance to jump into the top four of a touted 2026 draft class.
Golden State also expects to revisit potential blockbuster pursuits this summer, including renewed calls on Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard and soon-to-be free agent LeBron James. Kristaps Porziņģis, acquired in February, could return on a lower deal or be used in a sign-and-trade.
For now, however, the first domino is Kerr. Curry and Green have made clear they want him back. “I want Coach to be happy,” Curry said. “He knows how I feel about him.” The organization hopes to hear the same commitment from Kerr before mapping the rest of a critical summer.
Source: ESPN.com
