What I’m hearing about Warriors’ crucial offseason after Steve Kerr return

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What I’m hearing about Warriors’ crucial offseason after Steve Kerr return

Brett Siegel, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Wed, May 13, 2026 ·

22 min read

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One day, Steve Kerr , Stephen Curry , and Draymond Green will no longer be the faces of the Golden State Warriors . It seemed like that moment was on the horizon, and the franchise's dominance over the rest of the NBA was ending following the team's 2019 NBA Finals run, but the Warriors prolonged their golden era and title window when the Larry O'Brien Trophy was once again theirs in 2022.

To say a title run with Curry leading the charge is unexpected would be a disservice to one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. Instead, the best word to describe the Warriors' 2022 championship, their fourth since 2015, would be validation . This title confirmed that the organization was not done chasing titles, and that mindset has remained steadfast even after the departures of Bob Myers, Klay Thompson , and others.

However, to also say that the last few seasons for the Warriors have been anything but a disappointment would be a lie.

Those around Curry failed to step up in the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers , and the team's loss the following year in the play-in tournament to the Sacramento Kings was a clear wake-up call that times were changing. Even so, a glimmer of hope presented itself in 2025 when the Dubs took down the 2-seeded Houston Rockets in seven games and stole Game 1 on the road in the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves .

But the cost was high, as Curry suffered a hamstring injury and was unable to return for the rest of the series. Not to mention, both Green and Jimmy Butler were also banged up, leading to four straight wins for the Timberwolves and the Warriors again failing to capitalize on the potential that presented itself.

As the 2025-26 season began in San Francisco, talk about the franchise's future and direction was the featured story.

Owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr . had proven their hunger to still win at the highest level by trading for Butler, and the team momentarily kept Jonathan Kuminga on a new contract, which was essentially internally viewed as an inflated trade exception to be used at the trade deadline in February.

Overall, the Warriors entered the year with energy, motivation, and reason to believe that another big move could be on the horizon, especially with growing speculation regarding stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and others possibly becoming available on the trade block.

Still, outside of Father Time lingering around the franchise near the end of Curry's, Green's, Butler's, and even Al Horford's respective careers, another factor cast a lot of uncertainty about the future. That would be Kerr and his contract situation , with the head coach opting not to sign an extension in the final year of his deal and holding off on all contract talks until the 2025-26 season ended.

Between all the injuries to Curry, Butler, and Moses Moody , as well as the stress of another unsuccessful season due to factors they cannot control boiling over, Kerr's future and that of the Warriors immediately faced a crossroads following the team's 111-96 loss in the 8-seed play-in game against the Phoenix Suns on April 17.

Curry and Green headed toward the bench with the game out of reach before being embraced by Kerr in a moment that sure seemed like the end of an era.

"I don't know what's going to happen next, but I love you guys to death," Kerr told his two stars. "Thank you."

In the immediate aftermath of this loss to the Suns, many within the Warriors organization began mentally preparing themselves for the possible realization that this was Kerr's final game on the sidelines, league sources told ClutchPoints. All the stress and adversity through the years had finally caught up to everyone, especially Kerr, who was truly conflicted in his postgame comments.

Although Kerr mentioned that he still loved coaching and the team, he also made it clear that his job has an "expiration date." After spending time talking about all the accomplishments this team has had through the years and reminiscing on the four championship journeys, it truly felt like Kerr and the Warriors were going down two different paths at this crossroad presented to them.

The funny thing is, sometimes going down two different paths ultimately ends up leading back to the same road, and roughly three weeks later, Kerr and the Warriors agreed to a new deal.

Why Steve Kerr returned

Whether or not Kerr would be back with Golden State with his contract expiring immediately became the topic of discussion as this team began the offseason after failing to make the playoffs.

A season of turmoil and what seemed like injury curses took a toll on Kerr and this team, which is why serious conversations needed to be had. Kerr, Lacob, Dunleavy, and others all needed to sit down and talk through everything that has happened over the last couple of seasons and what the path forward looked like.

That is exactly what the sides ended up doing after taking a handful of days to regroup and reflect after the season-ending loss.

By no means was the Warriors' leadership prepared to enter a "Last Dance" scenario like Kerr had experienced alongside Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls in the '90s. Curry is not entering the final year of his career quite yet, and Lacob's vision for the franchise is to continue to take championship-like swings when it comes to adding stars next to Curry.

Although Kerr, Green, and Curry are all nearing the finish line, one of the first points the Warriors' brass made to Kerr when meetings began was that they wanted to continue this partnership past the 2026-27 season, sources said. If Kerr wanted to coach one more year before calling it quits, then a deal wouldn't have been made, but that wasn't the case. Kerr too didn't envision a "Last Dance" scenario.

Another key talking point immediately brought up during the initial meetings between Kerr and management was that both sides wanted the same thing. Whereas Kerr made it clear that he wanted to continue coaching, sources said the Warriors too expressed their interest in wanting Kerr to be the coach to guide the franchise from one era to the next.

At no point in any of the meetings featuring Kerr, Lacob, and others was there a sense of this not being the case. Kerr wanted to stay, and Lacob couldn't envision anyone else coaching Curry until the end of his career in a Warriors uniform.

Then was the next step in these discussions: talking about philosophical changes, immediate offseason plans, possible roster changes, and a clear vision for what the next few seasons would look like for the franchise. Kerr and everyone in these meetings were of the same mindset that everyone needed to be locked in and agree on the direction of these factors before a new contract was signed.

Money was of no factor to Lacob, sources said, as the Warriors owner had no problem paying the 60-year-old whatever was needed should there be a clear understanding about these changes and what's to come this offseason. That is why Kerr's new two-year contract running through the 2027-28 season keeps him as the highest-paid coach in the league.

The internal feel following the first week of meetings was that Kerr would be back as the Warriors coach, but discussing all of these topics simply took time.

First, it was about both sides expressing their desires to continue forward. The next set of meetings was about discussing the changes, both philosophical and roster-wise, that will happen heading into the 2026-27 season. And then the final meetings were simply to finalize Kerr's new contract.

During initial discussions, Curry spoke with both Golden State's brass and Kerr separately, sources said. Curry obviously wanted Kerr back, which was made known to both sides, but the Dubs star also made it clear to Kerr that it was solely his decision.

While Kerr was contemplating his future immediately following the Warriors' loss leading up to their initial meetings, sources say that at no point did outside factors influence a potential decision.

Media companies, like ESPN, were keeping an eye on Kerr's status and would obviously have great interest in hiring him as a lead analyst if he were to step away from coaching. But at no point was any formal offer made to Kerr or his representation, and this topic was never internally discussed between the coach and Golden State's leadership.

From the first meetings, Kerr and the Warriors were on the same page about moving forward together. There was never any point whatsoever where media money was involved or cast doubt on the negotiations between Kerr and the team, multiple sources confirmed.

Not being able to find a solution never really seemed like a real scenario for Kerr and the Warriors. This family-like atmosphere the organziation has built began with the partnership between Kerr and Lacob, and that is why these hard conversations were able to take place without feelings being involved

Everyone involved truly wants what is best for the family — what the Warriors see themselves as — which is why changes were agreed upon, and key opportunities to take advantage of this offseason were pinpointed.

Despite the end of an era quickly approaching, this franchise still sees a path to make immediate improvements and changes that can give Curry the help he needs to make at least one last championship push while also setting the groundwork for the years to come once he retires.

With Kerr's negotiations done and him committing to at least two more seasons on the sidelines, the next order of business for Dunleavy and Lacob is discussing the immediate future with Curry and Green, both of whom enter the summer with key contract situations themselves.

Next steps with Stephen Curry , Draymond Green

Curry is now 38 years old, yet like LeBron James , he continues to defy the expectations placed on older players in the league and is still playing at an MVP-like level when healthy. That has been the problem over the last two seasons, given Curry's hamstring injury in the 2025 playoffs, followed by his lingering knee issues during the back half of this season.

The good news regarding Curry and his knee ailment is that this is not something that will require offseason surgery, and the extra rest he will receive leading up to training camp in September will be valuable. Sources close to the situation told ClutchPoints that Curry will have no limitations entering the 2026-27 season and that his knee injury this past year was simply a product of overuse and wear and tear.

In terms of what his future with the Warriors looks like, Curry is not going anywhere anytime soon. Retirement is obviously on the horizon, but team sources told ClutchPoints that Curry has made it known multiple times throughout the years that he would like to play at least 20 seasons in the NBA. The 2025-26 season was his 17th year.

Not to mention, Curry has also made it clear that he wants to win at least one more championship, which would put him in a category with greats like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant , Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan , and other legends as the only players in league history to win at least five championships with the same organization.

Maximizing the final years of Curry's career is vital to Lacob and the Warriors, as they do not intend on going down the same road the Lakers did with Bryant near the end of his career, where the franchise didn't win more than 27 games in a three-season stretch before Kobe's retirement.

After finalizing Kerr's contract to return for at least two more seasons, Golden State will now look to lock Curry in for the foreseeable future with a new contract extension, sources said.

What this new deal will look like in terms of years is the big question, as it's reasonable to believe he could opt for a "1+1" type of deal with a player option for the 2028-29 season, which would align him with Kerr and create financial flexibility for the organization down the line.

These discussions will be had between Curry and the Warriors leading up to when he becomes extension eligible on Aug. 29, and he will sign a new contract before the 2026-27 season begins. Lacob and his staff have one goal this summer, and it's to maximize the team's potential alongside Curry.

Not only does Golden State want to get back to the playoffs, but this franchise believes there's a real chance to compete for a title as long as No. 30 is on the court in the postseason. That is why getting Curry more help is vital, and it's also why Green is the other big question mark for the Warriors to address immediately this offseason.

Unlike Curry, whose future is cemented with the Warriors, Green's has been unknown for quite some time. While he would obviously like to finish his career alongside Curry and Kerr, potentially playing for one team his entire career, Green has been aware over the last year that there is a possibility of this not happening for him.

Green publicly discussed this on his podcast during the 2025-26 season, outlining conversations he had with Kerr, Curry, and management about changes the organization could make involving him. About a week before the trade deadline this season, sources said Green was preparing to be traded when the organization was holding discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks about Antetokounmpo.

Ultimately, those talks ended due to the Bucks not wanting to trade the two-time MVP in the middle of the season, opting to wait until this offseason to come to a final verdict. In said talks with Milwaukee, Green would have been sent to a third team in exchange for future draft capital that would've been dealt for Giannis.

Much like Curry, Green has just one year left on his contract, but it's a $27.7 million player option that he and the organization will need to make a decision on by June 29. When it comes to evaluating the open market and where he's at in his career, it would seem foolish from a business perspective for Green to decline this money since he would be lucky to receive the full mid-level exception ($15 million) from any other team.

However, Green and the Warriors are open to discussing the idea of him opting out and restructuring his contract on a new two or three-year contract, sources said. Doing so and keeping Green on a smaller contract in the range of $18 million to $20 million per season would save Golden State a lot when it comes to utilizing its own mid-level exception to upgrade the roster this offseason.

At the same time, Green and his camp negotiated hard to have this $27 million player option when he first signed his four-year, $100 million deal in 2023 after contemplating whether to pursue opportunities with other teams. The only way Green will opt out of his contract is if there is a firm and clear vision for what the team plans to do with the financial flexibility such a move would create.

Green would have no problem with opting out and taking less money if it ensured that the Warriors could land LeBron James or another immediate championship-like piece to their roster at the start of free agency. But this is hard to predict , and there is no guarantee that taking less money results in the Warriors even making a roster upgrade.

One detail of note is that if Kerr wasn't returning, the chances of trading Green would be much higher. Kerr made it known in meetings that he wanted both Curry and Green to be a part of the team's immediate plans, and as of right now, May 13, the Warriors' offseason plans involve keeping Draymond entering the 2026-27 season.

Whether that happens with Green is still a question mark, as his $27.7 million player option is the only real trade piece the Warriors have outside of Butler's expiring $56.8 million deal. If Golden State is to pursue a trade in the summer for another superstar talent, either Green or Butler would need to be moved for financial purposes.

That is where the complications exist when it comes to making immediate improvements this offseason.

Warriors' offseason roster plans

Lacob wants to win. He is always willing to put any amount of money on the table to make such a thing happen for the Warriors, and it's why this team has remained a tax-paying organization through the years despite not coming close to a championship run since their last in 2022.

Perhaps even more notable is that Curry, alike, wants to win, and he has shared these remarks with several high-ranking members of Golden State's front office over the course of the last year, sources said.

That is why the Warriors are fully dedicated to entering the offseason in win-now mode, shifting their attention from Kerr's negotiations to now laying all their options out on the table when it comes to free agency and potential trade routes. Outside of Curry, all draft picks and players are available for the team to potentially utilize in a blockbuster trade.

Although Curry is not the type of superstar to threaten or put pressure on the organization, he and the Warriors are on the same page when it comes to maximizing the final years of his career. It's why they traded for Butler in 2025 and pursued both Antetokounmpo and Leonard before the trade deadline in February.

And now, it's why the Warriors will again have these names at the top of their list as offseason targets, along with several other stars who could become available this summer. Not to mention, the Dubs may hold off on going all-out for a star in trade talks, instead possibly exploring opportunities to add themselves as an extension of a Giannis trade or another big deal that happens with other teams.

Perhaps there would be a path to the team adding a key third option like Derrick White if the Boston Celtics traded for Giannis, or maybe there is another mid-tier contract out there that would make sense for the time being. This is one of the many scenarios and options on the table for Golen State's front office to explore and discuss in the coming weeks, as is figuring out what to do with the No. 11 pick in the draft.

Although the Warriors had held out hope that they could jump into the top four of the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, they instead stayed put at No. 11, which factors into their immediate roster decisions. There will be clear talent available in this spot of the draft, with names like Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Brayden Burries (Arizona), Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan), Nate Ament (Tennessee), and Hannes Steinbach (Washington) among a group of 10 different prospects Golden State has been scouting closely and gathering information on since the start of 2026.

With over a month until the 2026 NBA Draft, the current chances of the Warriors trading this pick outweigh the chances of them adding a young talent, sources said. However, a lot can change in six weeks, and if a trade for a star-level talent doesn't materialize, this pick will be utilized by the Dubs to begin their next phase of building for the future.

Of course, the name at the top of the list when it comes to a potential massive offseason move is Giannis.

Golden State very much involved in trade conversations with the Bucks before the trade deadline in February, with Milwaukee taking a strong interest in the multiple draft picks being offered. Now that they are picking 10th ahead of the Warriors, could gaining the 11th pick, along with many other future picks, make the Dubs' offer for Antetokounmpo stronger?

While the Warriors' future draft assets are clearly more appealing than those other teams, like the Miami Heat , can offer for Giannis, the fact of the matter is that Golden State lacks leverage in trade talks. Neither Green nor Butler would hold much value to a team like the Bucks if they were to trade Antetokounmpo, and the Warriors don't have a young, "blue-chip prospect" Milwaukee is said to want.

Their best young talent is Brandin Podziemski , who many rival scouts believe has already reached his ceiling as a player. That is why holding onto the 11th pick may be in the best interest of this organization's future, as there are several high-level prospects who could immediately create a strong foundation for Golden State.

After all, the Warriors have always been at their best when trusting the scouting department in the draft.

Giannis is the Dubs' No. 1 trade option entering the summer yet again, and they will make one last push before the NBA Draft to try to acquire him. Whether such an offer will involve Green or Butler for financial purposes is unknown at this time, but it's unlikely Golden State will be the ones to win the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.

So, would that make trading for Leonard the next likely scenario entering the offseason? Yes and no.

There is no denying that the Warriors have interest in Leonard, especially since the team made a last-ditch effort to acquire him before ultimately trading Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield for Kristaps Porzingis . Talks for Leonard hours before the deadline, which never came close to being finalized whatsoever, did not involve Green, sources told ClutchPoints.

The LA Clippers showed no interest in negotiating a Kawhi trade with anyone at the deadline, including the Timberwolves, who also contacted the Clippers following their Giannis talks falling through. While teams will once again pursue Leonard this offseason, early indications from Los Angeles are that Steve Ballmer wants to extend Leonard.

We will see what Kawhi ultimately wants and if he views the Clippers as a winning situation late in his career, especially now that they own the fifth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. No matter what, the Warriors' vision when first pursuing Leonard was to pair him with Green and Curry. It is hard to imagine that idea shifting to where Green would be involved in a potential Kawhi trade, which has a small chance of happening as of now.

LeBron James is the other big name the Warriors plan on pursuing this offseason, as he will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2018, when he decided to join the Lakers. Even though he is now 41 years old and the expectation is that he will only play for one or two more years, James is still playing at an All-Star level.

Lacob and the Warriors have long dreamed about pairing LeBron with Steph at the end of their respective careers, which is quite ironic considering these two were sworn rivals during Golden State's four-year NBA Finals war with Cleveland from 2015 through 2018. Golden State has even attempted to trade for LeBron at times over the last few seasons.

James has a strong relationship with Curry, Green, and Kerr, and the respect all of them share for one another will certainly hold some weight in LeBron's pending free agency. The chances of him leaving the Lakers and opting to join the Warriors over a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers are still very low, but the Warriors are planning on putting together their pitch to LeBron and Rich Paul.

Any scenario for James to join the Warriors in free agency would result in him taking a significant pay cut and signing for the mid-level exception, which would also mean Green opting out of his contract and signing for significantly less to allow the team to add one of his close friends.

In the small chance that Golden State could ultimately pull this off over the next seven weeks leading up to free agency, the organization would further look to strengthen their immediate championship outlook by going all-out for Leonard, Kevin Durant, or a different experienced superstar, sources said. Waiting for Butler to return from his ACL injury after possibly adding LeBron would not be the scenario in play.

Despite all of these different trade and free agency scenarios existing for Golden State, there is no telling what will ultimately happen.

All that is known right now is that the Warriors will be making win-now moves to improve their immediate outlook to compete in the Western Conference. Whether that means Giannis, Kawhi, LeBron, or none of them will join the Dubs this offseason remains to be determined.

The bottom line is that Kerr and the organization have agreed to change things up, both on the court and in terms of what this roster will look like heading into the 2026-27 season. If a trade is to be made before the NBA Draft, it will not be a marginal one.

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