Warriors coach Steve Kerr has “no regrets” about the organization’s decision to force-feed lottery pick James Wiseman in the early stages of this season, he told Tim Kawakami of The Athletic in a wide-ranging interview.
After Klay Thompson suffered another season-ending injury prior to the draft, the Warriors brass decided that this season would be “about getting ready for next year in a lot of ways,” Kerr said. Getting Wiseman acclimated to the NBA game became a higher priority.
“No regrets at all. I think it made perfect sense to start him right away,” Kerr said of the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft. “And then I think we started him for the first 16, 17 games, and at that point, that’s when I decided to start (Kevon) Looney. And that decision felt right, too, because we’d given him a good month or so, month and a half, bigger sample size so we knew what we were dealing with.”
Wiseman’s season was cut short in early April by a knee injury. Stephen Curry‘s offensive efficiency numbers were much lower with Wiseman on the court but Kerr is confident they’ll coexist in the future. It’s likely Wiseman will come off the bench next season.
“The way I look at it, he’s 20 years old, unbelievably talented,” Kerr said. “I’ve said all these things many times, but it’s worth repeating. Twenty years old and talented and a great kid. Just be patient and he’s going to develop.”
There were several other notable statements made by Kerr during the interview. Here’s some of the highlights:
- Staff changes will be made. “A staff is no different from a roster where you get a little stale and you need some new blood, you need some new energy, you need to maybe move some things around, move some pieces around, change roles. There’s a lot that we’re discussing.”
- Roster changes will also be made and Kerr is seeking more veterans, regardless of positions. “You want size and shooting in the same package. You want (a player like) Andre Iguodala, you want somebody who can guard multiple positions and when you get into a playoff game you want somebody who can guard LeBron (James) or Kawhi (Leonard), those guys. But somebody who can also make plays offensively.”
- Despite some serious back issues in prior seasons, Kerr is feeling much better physically and still has a zest for coaching. “It’s really a lot of fun for me. I have no plans on stepping down any time soon.”
The Warriors are in win now mode with the veteran team. Should they have traded the #2 pick Wiseman for a Veteran? Who could they have gotten?
Nobody.
I think they obviously looked at that and they will again. Great question is who? I think they’re still trying to figure that out this off season.
In fact, I believe they’ll not only dump Wiseman but also the two draft picks this year. Veterans will be plugged in.
I guess it’s all speculative. But they might be better off having waited. Now they can package Wiseman with Minnesota’s pick and try and get …. someone who will probably want out of their situation this summer? Beal, Dame, KAT, Kawhi, and whoever else is making the gossip columns this week.
Salaries don’t fit
Even if they throw in Wiggins?
Probably Beal, the pick and Klay for Beal. Hurts me saying that, I’m a wizards fan. Hes not going anywheres.
You have to look at that draft: it was one of the weakest, or better yet, “least convincing” ones in recent history. There was no consensus #1 pick, there were about 10 players who could have landed 1-10. Deni Avdija was lauded as a possible #1 pick by many writers. The trade market for a flawed draft class simply was not worth dealing the big question mark in Wiseman over.
The issue was losing Chriss and not replacing him at all, and giving Wiseman those minutes, when Wiseman should have been in the G League for the first few months of the year. Moron Kerr thinks this was a good thing, but keep in mind I only respect coaches who at least try to win every game no matter what. Kerr had his heart set on a repeat of the bubble season, so he could punch out early and go golfing or whatever, so his name is Moron Kerr from now on to me. KD should have told GSW “Kerr or me” and forced the issue.
“Moron Kerr” doesn’t make *him* look like the moron.
There was a clear top 3 Marty. A one-tier top 10 is rare to never. Avdija had no consenus as #1 or even #3.
And Kerr is no moron.
Vince 2 was also 0 for 2 if anyone is keeping track of fail rates.
Gary’s prediction is interesting. It will turn into a pissing contest if Lillard joins Curry.
If I was Rosas in MIN I would take a top 4(?) and Wiseman for Towns.
How did I fail? Wiseman and a 1st for Towns doesn’t work. You need to ship additional salary to Minnesota. Sounds like an overpay to me.
“No regrets at all, then we decided to start Looney, because you know, Wiseman is kinda awful but at the same point he is super awesome”
Wiseman is not awful. He is just a rookie. They always struggle in their 1st season.
The really good ones don’t, like LaMelo, right?
Lamelo is in his second season as a pro.
Seriously Vince 2… come on how is LaMelo gonna be the ROY if he is in his second season?
Care to explain, please?
Kerr is legit dogsh!t at coaching, the big change should be firing him.
I don’t understand all the hate towards Wiseman. All players struggle their 1st season, especially one that had gone almost a full season without playing.
it always take big men longer to play well in the NBA. look at Williamson who was supposed to be the next great Shaq. So far he has looked only good from 4 feet from the basket. Wiseman could be a top player but it will take another 2 years.
Why is it a problem if it takes 2 seasons? You have to start a rebuild sometime. Waiting until Klay, Curry, and Draymond retire is way to late.
Wiseman had some great games borderline monster games. Displayed it all in his short season ,got lost on D particulars the pickin roll but that was to be expected. He’s good! AD potential hopefully more durable tho this injury is the first strike lol. Defense should be his focus this summer, getting healthy, n stronger.
We can do this with any draft really. Obviously in hindsight LaMelo was the pick. Just like Curry was the pick over Jonny Flynn 12 years ago.
12 months ago most everyone agreed Wiseman was the safer bet, and with Steph and Klay, how would LaMelo have fit? Plus he couldn’t shoot, etc etc
Kerr can’t say “Yeah, you know, I really wish we had LaMelo.” But I guarantee one of the shakeups they’re discussing is packaging Wiseman for veteran help.
Disagree, Wiseman was always a huge question mark based off his lack of experience, which proved to be the difference in his season this year. Lamelo and Haliburton were always the safer pick, but Wiseman had the highest ceiling, that’s what we all said about him.
If Kerr and the FO cant get the team a ring next season, they HAVE to be fired. You don’t piss on Curry’s best season because you don’t feel like it because Klay isn’t there. Morons.
I’m not saying Wiseman was a safe pick. But LaMelo definitely had the widest spectrum of opinions coming out. For every guy who said he was a franchise player there was a guy who thought he was a total scrub putting up empty stats in Australia.
I’ll grant you Halliburton but I’m not sure he was going top 3. In retrospect though, yeah he was definitely a top 3 guy for his first year.
LaMelo was inconsistent so don’t pretend he is a some player that is a top 10 player. Look how T-wolves pick took awhile to adjust and he will be better than LaMelo. LaMelo only averaged 15.7 points a game not super star status. Edwards averaged 19.3 a game. Wieman was injured and only played 20 minutes a game but still put up over 11 points a game with rebounds.
Wiseman put up points and rebounds but constantly passed up an open Curry and basically acted like he wasn’t on the floor with the best player he will ever play with, which shows his lack of IQ – but that isn’t his fault, he should have been in the G league the entire first half of the season.
Wiseman problem was lack of playing time. to many times he was out of position on defense. They should have just used him for rebounds and setting picks instead of trying to make him a center piece of the offense. I read there was a lot of grumbling in Warriors management on which players should play. Maybe that is why the coaching staff could get a shake up.
Now arc is the dumb one. GSW fans could have a reverse-standings contest. Good thing Gary moved there & stayed. I left.
I do agree that Wiseman should have been in Santa Cruz; but it is (still) hard to get rookies to do that, too bad. You would think they would want that learning transition, esp when you know they will take care to get you all the opportunity you need.
And I should have tried Santa Cruz too.
Why would you want to sit Wiseman for 3 months, and only have him play in 15 games? You can’t develop a guy by leaving him on the bench.
I don’t know how GSW can literally watch Jordan Poole blossom in the G League but refused to send Wiseman, he of 3 career college games and literally nothing else, to Santa Cruz too. Dumbest front office ever. Kerr’s gaslighting of the fanbase and straight up refusal to win is disgusting behavior.
But Meyers is trash too. You trade Oubre to free up that money, you use the DPE to bring in a guy so you dont run out a roster of only 8 guys for the last 2 months until they run of out of gas when it matters. GSW’s FO + Kerr is an absolute nightmare for a fan to have to sit through. We deserve better and so do Steph and Dray.
He had to do with all the injuries at center. Chris went down after 2 games. Looney played hurt at the start of the season. GSW had no choice to play him since Meyer refused to pick up another big man. Yes Wiseman should have been sent down to the G league but blame Meyers for refusing to address warriors needs.
Meyers and Kerr both get F’s this season. Absolutely pathetic showings from both of them. You don’t say “we arent chasing wins this year” in front of a healthy Stephen Curry. Fireable offense in other orgs….
I am not a Meyers fan. He seems more like a egomaniac GM than a go for it GM. Oubre didn’t fit GSW and he refused to trade him when offers came in. He just better not sign Oubre that would be another big mistake.
I’m ONLY ok with a sign-and-trade, I mean Wiggins+Klay barely are a fit together, but Wiggins+Oubre+Klay are definitely a terrible roster fit. I’d be so happy if Oubre and Wiggins were shipped out for better fits to take advantage of Steph’s greatness.
Since Klay and Wiggins haven’t been on the court together, how can you say that aren’t a fit?
i have a feeling Oubre will be shocked on his contract offers. It will not be as much as he expects since he had a bad year. He is not getting a $20 million deal unless its for 2 years or less.
It’s a toss up as to who passed up an open Curry more this year: Was it Bazemore, Wiseman, Oubre or Wiggins? Really shows GSW’s “big 4” of problems…
You should post about it another 28 times.
Oh? Do my posts bother you? There’s a button for that!
Agreed, stop whining Marty
Wiseman and Oubre for Turner and 13th pick
Warriors need 3 lottery picks to make trade
I think its fair to question Kerrs ability to coach today if it wasn’t already
Meyer is an average GM
Kerr is a below-average coach for an average team
What was Luke Walton’s record as interim coach? There’s some evidence that the golden era of Golden State was essentially autonomous.
You have to wonder if Marty has ever watched a Warriors game. Since there was no Summer League, and barely a G-League, he believes not playing Wiseman for 2 years would enhance his development. You can’t compare him to Poole. Jordan had a season under his belt, and a summer to work on his short comings.
Warriors are garbage. Look at Dame. When you only have 1 good player they get tired.
Klay is done. Dray is done. Curry can put up Wilt numbers but at the end of the day basketball is a team sport.
Sick, sad world.
Isn’t Green up for DPOY award? So how exactly is he done. If the warriors offer him around the league there would be a lot of takers for him in a trade. What did Green do to you to make you say something that crazy? Refused to give you a autograph?
Never asked him for autograph but Draymond’s offense was putrid this year. Defense is buoying him. but how many DPOY’s stayed that level into their 30s?
“Guard LeBron and Kawhi but make plays offensively too”
Is this a slight insight pointing at Pascal Siakim.
They have been rumoured to him for ages, he’s just had a disappointing season, they could trade away Andrew Wiggins for salary matching purposes. Wiggins is Canadian and Pascal plays for Toronto…
I think they need a clear and obvious bucket getter. Someone who can create his own shot or atleast be a go to scorer with Steph out. Klay gets buckets but doesn’t create them for himself, Draymond gets so many open looks that he passes up for whatever reason. It doesn’t even need to be a star just a player that’ll get 15-20 by himself. For example Norman Powell, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Dillon Brooks etc…
A fine post with many legit targets. Been hearing this one about Siakam, its definitely a look, but does an out of sorts Siakam fit with a team that is 10000% clueless on how to develop players or bring the talent out of them?
It just sucks Boucher will never be coming back to GSW, because that would mean admitting the FO blew it on him, just like they blew it with Nunn, Seth, Wiseman etc etc
GSW needs Jerry West or an equivalent more than any player, because replacing him with Lacobs actual children just proved nepotism hires ALWAYS bring brutal results (no matter what business youre in).
That was funny, the quote in Simmons’s, and even led to sanity from Marty.
Coaches talk like this on this topic and I bet Kerr was throwing one back to the reporter.
I don’t understand the NBA cap room rules, but I’ve read 102 articles on this site over the last two months that say the Warriors have the capacity to add no more salary for next season. So, all this talk about adding several seasoned veterans confuses me.
The key is Andrew Wiggins. His 30 million dollars have to be shipped out. I think I said it last week if they don’t trade Wiggins then they’re stuck in the same spot they are this year.
In fact, part of the genius of this ownership group and management was to bring in DeAngelo Russell and then Wiggins for Kevin Durant’s max salary spot. Now they can trade this player out just as they did with Russell for another Max guy. If they let Kevin Durant walk as a free agent they would still be over the cap and not be able to SIGN a free-agent to a max deal.
But you’re right they can’t really add more salary off the street except for a couple of so-called mid-level or taxpayer exceptions.
I must say I have been very disappointed with J-Wise in his rookie season.
Always said LaMelo & J-Wise were the only 2 stars in last years draft…
Both have proved me wrong, LaMelo is a superstar… J-Wise is lookin’ like a bust so far, right?
All-Rookie Teams
1/ LaMelo, Hali, Edwards, Tate & Stewart
2/ Cole Anthony, Saddiq Bey, Patrick Williams, KMJ & J-Wise
Rookies that are more hype than substance…
IQ, Okoro, Pritchard & Toppin!
Add the write up to the chat responses and you get? Light Years ! Brought to you by Lacob & Sons…