Warriors Owner Joe Lacob Talks Porzingis Deal, Kerr Contract and Team Direction
warriors-owner-joe-lacob-porzingis-kerr-team-direction
Golden State Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob said trading Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porziņģis “wasn’t a hard” call, despite being one of Kuminga’s biggest backers in the organization. Lacob’s comments came during an interview with Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard.
Porziņģis Trade
“We knew we had to do something,” Lacob said, noting that injuries and inconsistent play kept Kuminga from fully breaking through in Golden State. The owner added the club was unwilling to “give him away” and moved only when Porziņģis became available. Kuminga had formally requested a trade on Jan. 15 after a lengthy offseason contract stalemate.
Early Impression of Porziņģis
Lacob was upbeat about Porziņģis’ first appearance with the Warriors on Thursday. “He showed you a little bit of what he can do and why we got him,” the owner said, highlighting the 7-foot-3 center’s size and skill set. With Porziņģis and rookie Quinten Post, Lacob noted the roster now features “two real 7-footers.”
Steve Kerr’s Future
Head coach Steve Kerr is in the final year of his contract, and Lacob said both sides plan to revisit negotiations after the season. “He’s got a job to do,” Lacob explained. “It’s really up to him—what does he want to do? He doesn’t know, I don’t think.”
Lacob praised Kerr’s 12-year tenure, which includes four championships and six NBA Finals trips. Any decision, he said, will consider how Kerr feels after the season and where the franchise stands.
Looking Ahead
Lacob did not discuss specific win-loss targets but said he remains optimistic about the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign with Porziņģis in the lineup and Kerr on the bench. “I like what I saw,” he said of the center’s debut. “Let’s get him ready, get his timing back and get used to our players. I think it’s encouraging.”
Source: HoopsRumors
