Golden State Warriors Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Eastern Notes: Whitmore, Wizards, Pistons, Giannis, Bucks

May 19th, 2023 at 5:42pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Wizards hold the No. 8 pick in the draft and Villanova forward Cam Whitmore wouldn’t mind being part of their future, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Whitmore, who grew up in Maryland, is projected as a top-10 selection.

“That’s home, the D.M.V. There’s nothing like playing at home. The fans, hopefully they would be excited to have me. We’ll see if they pick me,” Whitmore said.

We have more from the Eastern Conference:

The Pistons had terrible luck at the lottery, dropping from No. 1 to No. 5. Trading the pick may be the way to go and James Edwards III of The Athletic explores that possibility. Edwards throws out a number of intriguing trade packages where the Pistons could wind up with Pascal Siakam, Keldon Johnson or RJ Barrett, or move up to the No. 3 spot in a deal with Portland.
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo had some fun on social media when a Warriors fan implored him to push for a trade to Golden State. Antetokounmpo smiled and said, “Nah, I’m not that kind of guy,” JR Radcliffe of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel relays. The two-time MVP cannot opt out of his contract until the summer of 2025.
In a lengthy mailbag piece, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm writes in-depth about the Bucks’ coaching opening and why the organization parted ways with Mike Budenholzer. Nehm believes the next coach needs to have a solid plan about improving the Bucks’ half-court offense.

Warriors Notes: Kuminga, Dunleavy, Myers, CBA

May 19th, 2023 at 9:29am CST by Luke Adams

Although Jonathan Kuminga showed promise in an increased role during his second NBA season, the young forward wasn’t part of the Warriors’ playoff rotation, receiving three DNP-CDs in the postseason and playing more than 10 minutes in just one game. As Anthony Slater of The Athletic relays, head coach Steve Kerr explained the thinking behind that decision in his end-of-season media session earlier this week.

“The biggest thing was with (Andrew Wiggins) and Gary (Payton II) in place again, it lessened the need for what JK’s strength is right now, which is on-ball defense,” Kerr said. “The best way for Jonathan — and I told him this — the best way for him to get more playing time is to become a more versatile player.

“… The more things you can do, the more easy it is to fit into a five-man lineup. Rebounding is a huge thing for JK. If he’s going to be a great player in this league, he’s got to rebound. A four-man with that kind of size and athleticism, that’s the next step, and continuing to work on all the things that he’s working on already, the shooting and the ball handling and the court vision, understanding what’s happening on the floor. It’s all going to get better because he’s so young and because he’s willing to work.”

A report last week indicated that Kuminga’s representatives would talk to the Warriors about the 20-year-old’s role going forward and may prefer a change of scenery for their client if his minutes continue to be inconsistent. However, Kerr’s comments suggested that he’s looking forward to incorporating the former lottery pick into his rotation in 2023/24 — he expressed confidence in Kuminga’s potential to break out in his third NBA season.

“If you look at Jonathan’s regular season, he did some great things,” Kerr said, per Slater. “I tell him all the time, he’s got 15 years ahead of him. He’s got such a long career ahead. He’s got a lot of ability and he’s just in the process of learning the NBA game.”

Here’s more out of Golden State:

After Marc J. Spears of Andscape reported that Mike Dunleavy Jr. represented the Warriors at this week’s general manager meetings in Chicago, Slater cautioned (via Twitter) that it wasn’t necessarily a hint at Bob Myers‘ plans for his future, since Dunleavy has stood in for Myers in other capacities in the past. Slater points out that Dunleavy’s role as Golden State’s “backup” GM is one reason why he’s widely viewed as Myers’ eventual successor.
If Myers does decide to remain in his president/GM position with the Warriors, the expectation is that his annual salary will surpass $10MM, says Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. A report this week stated that the two sides hadn’t engaged in real negotiations in months and remain far apart.
Tim Kawakami and Danny Leroux of The Athletic take a closer look at how the Warriors will be affected by the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, with Leroux noting that many of the more punitive restrictions for teams above the new second tax apron won’t go into effect right away. However, Leroux believes that teams over the second apron – including Golden State – will be prohibited from using the taxpayer mid-level exception and signing buyout players in 2023/24.

Bob Myers, Warriors Still Far Apart On Extension

May 17th, 2023 at 10:46pm CST by Arthur Hill

It’s been months since the Warriors have engaged in contract extension talks with president of basketball operations Bob Myers and it appears increasingly likely that he may not remain with the team after his contract expires June 30, according to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

Sources tell Charania and Slater that there’s been no recent movement on a new deal for Myers, and they suggest that even an offer to make him one of the league’s highest-paid executives may not be enough to keep him with the team.

The authors’ sources say that Myers has been contacted about positions with private equity funds and roles with other sports leagues that may be more lucrative than what Golden State can offer. They also note that he has done some podcast work over the past year and may have interest in working in the media.

Myers could also be looking for a break from the stress of running an NBA team, as the Warriors reportedly offered him the option to take some time off if he decides to accept an extension.

Myers joined the organization in 2011 as an assistant general manager and was promoted to GM a year later. His personnel moves helped transform Golden State from a perennial loser to the most successful team of the past decade — the club has won four NBA titles since establishing its core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Thompson, Green and head coach Steve Kerr have all been vocal about their desire to keep Myers, and their futures with the team could be affected by whether he decides to remain in his job. Thompson is eligible for an extension this summer, Green faces a decision on a $27.6MM player option for next season and Kerr has one year remaining on his contract.

Lowe’s Latest: GM Meetings, Wizards, Blazers, Lue, Kuminga, Harden

May 17th, 2023 at 10:06am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s general managers held their annual meeting in Chicago on draft lottery day and the discussions among those GMs about a handful of competition-related issues were “lively,” according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe (Insider link).

One of the topics the GMs talked about on Tuesday, according to Lowe, was the idea of turning the NBA draft into a two-day event. They also discussed whether the modern game has tilted too far toward offensive production and considered what could be done to help defenses. Additionally, sources tell Lowe that some executives in attendance suggested bringing back escalating fines as a penalty for players who flop.

Much of the general managers’ conversation revolved around the issue of load management, and Lowe hears from sources that there may be more load management-related rules implemented as soon as next season. According to Lowe, some in attendance at the meetings believe the NBA may revisit its guidelines on when teams are permitted to rest players, as well as the penalties for clubs that violate those guidelines.

Here’s more from Lowe, who was in the drawing room for Tuesday night’s lottery:

Before the fourth and final lottery ball was drawn for the No. 1 pick, the Wizards had six of the 11 available combinations, according to Lowe and other reporters who attended the drawing. The Magic, Pacers, and Trail Blazers were also still alive for the top pick at that point, but it was the Spurs who lucked out and held the winning combination: 14-5-8-2.
Rival executives are expecting Portland to re-sign Jerami Grant this offseason, according to Lowe, who says he believes the Trail Blazers will also look into renegotiating the protections on the lottery-protected first-round pick they owe to the Bulls. Removing or reducing the protections on that pick would give the Blazers more flexibility to trade future first-rounders.
The Clippers love having Tyronn Lue as their head coach and are “happy to remind” teams with interest in Lue that he remains under contract, Lowe reports. The Suns are said to have legitimate interest in hiring Lue away from their division rivals, but it sounds like Los Angeles would make that very difficult. As Lowe notes, it’s still unclear whether or not that’s even something Lue would want.
Executives in Chicago are “buzzing” about what the future holds for the Warriors and Sixers. Based on his conversations, Lowe says there’s a strong level of interest in Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga around the NBA. Lowe adds that, while the Rockets and James Harden have mutual interest in a reunion, league sources made it clear that Harden’s return to Houston is no lock after the dismissal of Doc Rivers in Philadelphia.

Steve Kerr Talks Draymond, Myers, Poole, Contract

May 17th, 2023 at 8:06am CST by Luke Adams

As Draymond Green considers whether or not to pick up his $27.6MM player option for 2023/24, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made it clear on Tuesday that he wants the veteran forward on Golden State’s roster next season, per Kendra Andrews of ESPN.com.

“Look, if Draymond is not back, we’re not a championship contender,” Kerr said. “We know that. He’s that important to winning and to who we are. I absolutely want him back.”

As Andrews relays, Kerr told reporters that he and Green haven’t spoken since the Warriors’ season ended last week, but he expects to talk to him soon and is confident that the 33-year-old will want to stay with the team.

While Kerr hopes Green will remain with the Warriors, the head coach also stressed that Draymond’s punch of Jordan Poole during training camp negatively impacted the level of trust and chemistry within the locker room entering this season. The club isn’t prepared to sweep that under the rug, according to Kerr, who said that rebuilding the organizational culture will be a top priority this offseason.

“He knows that he also compromised things by what happened back in October,” Kerr said. “So part of him coming back next year has to be about rebuilding some of that trust and respect that he’s earned here for a long period of time.”

Here’s more on the Warriors, including additional comments from Kerr:

Kerr referred to Bob Myers‘ decision about whether or not to remain in his role of president of basketball operations as a crucial one for the future of the Warriors, per Andrews. “Bob is such an important part of our organization,” Kerr said. “I absolutely hope he comes back, but it’s also a case where I want what’s best for Bob, and if he decides that he’s going to leave, of course, I’m going to support him 100 percent. … I would miss him, but I support him regardless of what he does.”
Reports last week indicated that the Warriors may not view Jordan Poole as a member of the team’s long-term core going forward. However, Kerr said on Tuesday that he believes Poole is a “foundational” member of the team whose growth will be a key factor in Golden State’s progress in the coming years, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. “He helped us win a lot of games. He helped us win a championship a year ago,” Kerr said. “He would be the first to admit it wasn’t his best season. But that’s how these things go. That’s how careers go. As his coach, it’s my job to help him get better and help him really find his groove and find a good comfort zone next year.”
Kerr, who has one year remaining on his contract with the Warriors, suggested on Tuesday that he hasn’t begun discussing a contract extension with the team (Twitter video link via Anthony Slater of The Athletic). Kerr added that he’s in “no rush” to push for those talks, since he recognizes that the franchise needs resolution on Myers’ situation first. “Our organization has a lot to sort through this summer,” he said (link via Slater). “My contract situation is not, nor should it be, at the top of the list. Right now Bob’s contract situation is number one because that influences a lot of the player decisions that have to be made, contracts, draft, free agency.”

Warriors Rumors: Draymond, Core Trio, Poole, More

May 15th, 2023 at 3:42pm CST by Rory Maher

While the future of president of basketball operations Bob Myers remains uncertain, the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are still likely to be on the Warriors‘ roster in 2023/24, sources tell Marc Stein at Substack.

That aligns with reporting from Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, who hears that the franchise is “in no rush” to break up the core that has won four championships together.

After Green famously punched Jordan Poole during training camp, it seemed unlikely the former Defensive Player of the Year, who holds a $27.6MM player option for next season, would remain in the team’s long-term plans.

However, he won back the team’s respect over the course of the season, according to Kawakami, who says that Curry has long considered Green his “first pick” as a teammate. Kawakami also notes that Green’s value on the open market may be limited and he’s “more valuable to the Warriors and with the Warriors than anywhere else.”

Thompson, meanwhile, will be entering the final year of his contract and eligible for a veteran extension, but there’s no indication the team has any plans to trade him at this point — quite the opposite.

Here’s more on the Warriors:

Green has said he’s undecided on whether nor not he’ll pick up his player option, but either way, he wants to “be a Warrior for life.” A report from The Athletic indicated that the team intends to discuss a multiyear contract with the big man, though it didn’t specify if that would be a new deal or an extension if he exercises his option. It sounds like it might be the former — sources tell Logan Murdock of The Ringer that the Warriors would be open to a multiyear contract if Green declines his option.
Murdock’s story is full of interesting details on Golden State’s season. He writes that not only did Green punching Poole negatively impact their own relationship — Poole viewed Green as a mentor during his first three seasons — but it also deepened the divide between the old guard and the team’s young players. “I don’t have no answer for you,” Poole said of his relationship with Green. “Other than that, we was just on the court and teammates, and we was out there trying to win games. What I do recall saying at the beginning of the season is that, ‘We’re coming. We’re going to come out here. We’re going to play on the court. We’re going to try to win a championship.’ We were teammates. It’s just business, honestly. And that’s really all it was, it is, it has been. It’s just been business. It’s been basketball.”
The free agency departures of Otto Porter, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Gary Payton II (who was later re-acquired at the trade deadline) also played a factor in the divide, according to Murdock. Not only did having the veterans stabilize the rotation, but they held the respect of both the old and young players. This season, the young players grew frustrated with their lack of minutes, Murdock writes. “That’s the normal NBA, and we haven’t had to deal with normal NBA,” Andre Iguodala told Murdock last month. “We’ve been in fantasyland for so long, and this year was more like the real NBA.”
Poole was criticized throughout the season — and particularly in the postseason — for his shot selection, turnovers and poor defense. Yet after the Game 5 victory against the Lakers, Curry told Murdock that Poole was “the key” to bridging the present and the future, showing the Warriors still have faith in the 23-year-old.
Poole’s future is reportedly up in the air, as the team might explore the trade market for him if it decides to make a cost-cutting move with the new CBA about to kick in. “I don’t know why I wouldn’t be [back],” Poole told Murdock. “It wasn’t a bad year. I mean, career highs in two categories. I was able to make history with Klay and Steph. My first game-winner. It was a lot of good things that happened this season. It wasn’t a bad season. Yes, I’m in the fabric. Yes, I belong here in this organization, bridging the gap. And I’m a young guy who was drafted here. We won a championship last year, and we have another chance to do it again. And I don’t know why anybody else would feel otherwise. I don’t think anybody is thinking like that.”

Bob Myers’ Future With Warriors Remains Uncertain

May 15th, 2023 at 2:12pm CST by Rory Maher

Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers, whose contract expires at the end of next month, “plans to take a couple of weeks” to determine what he wants to do in the future, telling ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that he’s “torn” on returning largely due to his close relationships with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr (Twitter video link).

That aligns with a recent report from Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, who heard from sources that Myers was going to take some time before coming to a decision.

One interesting part of Shelburne’s report that got lost in the shuffle was that owner Joe Lacob pitched lucrative contract offers to Myers that would have given him the flexibility to take time off if he so desired. Reading between the lines, it’s clear that the team is well aware of Myers’ career uncertainty.

Myers is the most likely of that longtime core group to depart the Warriors, sources tell Marc Stein in his latest article at Substack. There’s a “strong expectation” within the organization that if Myers doesn’t re-sign, he’s more likely to take “at least” the 2023/24 season off to spend time with family rather than join a rival front office, according to Stein.

A two-time Executive of the Year, Myers is a former college basketball player (UCLA) and sports agent who has been an executive with the Warriors since 2011, winning four championships. A recent report from The Athletic indicated that VP of basketball operations Mike Dunleavy Jr. may take over for Myers if he decides not to return.

Stephen Curry Still Anticipates More Title Runs

May 14th, 2023 at 8:26pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Stephen Curry is still hopeful of getting another championship with the Warriors, Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports writes. “You can’t win it every year, but you wanna be in the position to be serious contenders,” Curry said after the Warriors were eliminated by the Lakers. “Final eight, you can retool and be back.”

Warriors Notes: DiVincenzo, Kuminga, Myers, Green, Thompson

May 13th, 2023 at 10:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

There are questions about whether the Warriors can make it work financially, but Donte DiVincenzo would like to remain with the team, writes C.J. Holmes of The San Francisco Chronicle. Speaking to reporters Saturday, DiVincenzo said he hasn’t decided whether to pick up his $4.7MM player option for next season or decline it and seek a long-term deal, either with Golden State or another team. The Warriors are limited to a new offer starting at $5.4MM, which would be 120% of this year’s salary.

The team signed DiVincenzo last summer to fortify its bench, which was his role for most of the season. He was inserted into the starting lineup during Andrew Wiggins‘ late-season absence, and he started the playoff opener. However, once Wiggins showed he was ready to contribute, DiVincenzo went back to the bench and struggled to find his shooting rhythm for the rest of the postseason.

“What I will say is I absolutely love being a Golden State Warrior,” he said. “The guys in the locker room, the coaching staff, the training staff, from day one, it’s felt like home. … My goal this summer is to just get better. You know, to be able to take a step next year for the Warriors and try to expand even more; to be in a system I’m familiar with and just grow from there and get better as a player and as a man.”

There’s more on the Warriors:

A report after Friday’s loss indicated that Jonathan Kuminga‘s representatives might consider seeking a change of scenery for their client this summer, but the second-year forward said his exit interview with management went well, Holmes adds. “(The Warriors are) just happy with the way I have grown,” Kuminga said. “Pretty much they want me to keep adding on what I did this year, keep learning the game and just growing more, figuring out how I can impact even more on winning. And I think that’s been my goal, to just figure out how I can impact on winning.”
President of basketball operations Bob Myers plans to take some time to decide on his future, sources tell Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Owner Joe Lacob made several extension offers to Myers during the season that would have given him one of the highest salaries among league executives, along with an option to take some time off if he wanted to, Shelburne’s sources add. Myers’ current contract will expire June 30, and Shelburne hears that he’s not sure if he wants to stay in his job.
Myers’ decision may affect the Warriors’ ability to reach extension agreements with Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, Shelburne adds. The organization’s financial status means both players will likely have to accept team-friendly contracts, and Myers is known for his ability to handle those type of delicate negotiations. Green said Myers’ future will definitely be a factor he considers as he weighs his own decision, according to Mark Medina of Sportsnaut.

Jordan Poole Talks About Training Camp Punch From Draymond Green

May 13th, 2023 at 5:13pm CST by Arthur Hill

The punch that Draymond Green threw at Jordan Poole during a training camp practice session was an early sign of a divided team, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPN (Insider link). The Warriors‘ front office had hoped to develop a young group of players who could eventually take over for the veteran core, but sources tell Shelburne the strategy created a tension between the two groups that still persists.

Shelburne notes that neither participant has offered much public comment on the incident, but Poole told her this week that he believed it was important to handle the situation with grace.

“I don’t speak on it much,” he said. “But I will say that … you’ve got to have a different level of maturity. We had a season to play. You’re going to have to play with these people in the locker room, and that’s why I said maturity is a big thing. What I know for a fact is there aren’t many people who would be able to think logically and understand the magnitude of the situation, you know?”

The punch was preceded by a verbal exchange between the two players, which led to Green walking over to Poole and confronting him. Poole shoved Green in the chest to move him away, and Green responded by hitting Poole in the face and knocking him down, then standing over him before coaches and teammates rushed in to break them up.

Underlying the skirmish was speculation about their respective futures with the organization. Poole was eligible for a rookie scale extension, which he received a week later — it could be worth as much as $140MM over four years. Green has a $27.6MM player option for 2023/24, and although the Warriors intend to discuss a new multiyear contract, there’s no guarantee he’ll be back with the team next season.

Green and Poole kept their lockers next to each other and tried to maintain business as usual, but the atmosphere around the team was different, Shelburne adds. Poole’s play regressed and he became an easy target for fans and media over the team’s defensive problems.

Poole also became noticeably quieter, both with his teammates and reporters, but sources tell Shelburne the frustrations that he and other young players harbored were well known in the locker room. While Poole failed to deliver on the promise that led to his extension, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody weren’t able to earn consistent rotation minutes and James Wiseman was sent to the G League for a while before being shipped to Detroit at the trade deadline.

Another unresolved issue is how video footage of the incident, which was shot by team personnel, was leaked to TMZ. The Warriors launched an internal investigation to identify the culprit, but Shelburne states that no one was ever held publicly accountable.

“People changed after that,” a team source told Shelburne. “Everybody was suspicious for a while.”