The talks between Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and the organization’s front office–or, more specifically, owner Joe Lacob and team president Mike Dunleavy–are ongoing this week and expected to reach a conclusion in a matter of days, if not hours. And while there is no doubt that the Warriors are hopeful of getting Kerr back in order to keep his coaching acumen on the sideline, there is another reason Golden State is making one last push to keep him in place.
Star players like Steve Kerr.
That would likely come as a surprise to a significant portion of the Warriors’ fan base, that group which does not give credit to Kerr for his four championships and Team USA success but, instead, harps on his failure to turn James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga into NBA stars. But around the league, stars like Kerr and, more important, they want to play for Kerr.
While we’ve seen a litany of potential trade targets lined up for the Warriors this summer, one top player with an affinity for Kerr who is sure to find the interest mutual is Wizards star Anthony Davis.
Anthony Davis Unhappiness Could Be a Warriors Opportunity
Davis has bounced from the Lakers in the shocking Luka Doncic trade, to the Mavericks for the past season-plus, before he was unceremoniously dumped in Washington, where the Wizards are hoping to jump-start their rebuilding efforts. But it’s not clear that Davis wants to be part of those efforts. NBA reporter Chris Haynes noted last week, in fact, “There’s a good chance he winds up someplace else by the time next season starts.”
That does not mean Davis will be traded to the Warriors, of course. But the Wizards will, if they decide that Davis really does want out and they should grant him that, work with Davis on finding the right deal for all parties. And that’s where Golden State comes in.
Anthony Davis Enjoyed Playing for Steve Kerr
The Warriors have a standing interest in Davis, even as he has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons–he has played just 71 games in those two years. Kerr has long marveled at his athleticism and scoring ability combined with his ability to defend the paint and guard out to the 3-point line. And Davis has long had an interest in Kerr.
Should Kerr come back, those around the league believe the chances of the Wizards and Warriors working out a deal will go up considerably.
As Davis said of Kerr during the 2024 Olympics: “We actually had multiple conversations throughout the summer about him finally being happy to be on the other side of coaching me and not coaching against me. But he is very motivational, he makes sure we are efficient getting our work in. He is very positive, but you can see that from the sideline, so everything that I would expect Steve to be as a coach, it is reflected here at camp.
“He listens to the players. He’s really a players-first coach.”
Warriors Have Reservations About Blockbuster Trades
Now, the same caveat is in place for a trade involving Davis to the Warriors as it would be for any other star player. He is entering the second year of a three-year, $175 million extension, and is due $58.5 million next season. There’s virtually no way the Warriors can get to a salary-match on a deal that size without trading away Jimmy Butler and his $56.8 million he is owed next year.
Butler tore his ACL in January and is currently rehabbing, with a possible return around November at the earliest. The Warriors–both the front office and Steve Kerr–are sensitive to the ugly optics of trading a well-liked player such a Butler as he recovers from surgery, especially if they’re sending him to the Wizards.
That’s going to be the No. 1 obstacle to a trade for the Warriors this summer. But if the Dubs can stomach that, Anthony Davis is certainly a possible target.
Warriors’ Steve Kerr Return Could Signal Trade Pursuit of $175 Million Star