Those hoping Steve Kerr leaves Warriors should be careful what they wish for

As Steve Kerr contemplates his future and whether the Warriors will be a part of it, the team’s fan base continues to debate his worthiness. This is normal, the complementary sideshow that accompanies any lame-duck coach regardless of achievement.While most seem supportive of Kerr heeding the voices of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green and re-signing for at least two more years, the more restless members of Dub Nation have champagne on ice anticipating their farewell celebration.Group 2, at least from here, has the weaker case.Group 1 considers Kerr an excellent coach, even if there were times last season when excellence did not surface. Truth told, Golden State occasionally appeared clueless about such basic NBA principles as purposeful passing, executing a fast break and scouting-report comprehension.Kerr did some of his best work when the Warriors were most compromised by injury. His overall record is impressive in ways both overt and subtle. latent. More on that later.Group 2, which seems smaller in number but is particularly vocal in the disaffected chamber of social media, has decided Kerr – who presided over teams that reached the NBA Finals in each of his first five seasons – has lost his touch or, worse, forgotten how to coach. Therefore, it is time for CEO Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy to recruit a replacement for Golden State. Someone they believe is more evolved in the ways of the NBA.A few folks in that camp might better accept Kerr if he were to suppress the political tragedy in his personal background. The life experience that compels him to exercise free speech by confronting the sociopolitical issues roiling America and, by extension, the planet. Zip it and coach. Such “advice” was rarely offered during championship seasons.Most in Group 2 are less concerned with Kerr’s off-court pursuits than with his perceived shortcomings as a coach. To them, he is too tolerant of the dark side of Green’s temperament. Too enchanted with Brandin Podziemski. Too enamored with small lineups. Trots out too many puzzling rotations and lineups. Can’t develop young players. Is inconsistent with the distribution of Curry’s minutes. And was too intolerant of Jonathan Kuminga’s inconsistency.Or, perhaps, all the above.Which misses Kerr’s greatest attribute as a coach. He excels at people management, and that generally allows him to get the most out of those throughout the roster.It took Kerr a couple months to fall in love with Curry’s spectacular but at times carefree style. After winning back-to-back MVP awards in Kerr’s first two seasons, Steph rested his case and Kerr fully embraced the singular brilliance of the player he inherited.Kerr realized Curry, a one-of-one talent, was his surest path to prosperity – while understanding a coach can be no better than his best player(s). Red Auerbach had Bill Russell. Pat Riley had Magic and Kareem. Phil Jackson had Michael and Scottie, and the Kobe-Shaq duo. Gregg Popovich had Tim Duncan. Kerr visualized Curry’s impact, designing the offense around his catalyst. He tweaked it only slightly for an MVP named Kevin Durant.But Kerr’s insight didn’t stop there. He inherited David Lee – who in 2013 was Golden State’s first All-Star since 1997 – but recognizing the need for better defense, replaced Lee with Draymond Green. Draymond anchored the defense of the fabled “Death Lineup” and became the most effective small-ball center in NBA history.Kerr moved veteran starter Andre Iguodala to the bench for Harrison Barnes because it allowed for a more rational use of the roster’s rotations and depth. Iguodala was the tie that bound the Death Lineup, which averaged 6-foot-6 but used defense to extinguish opponents and transition offense to bury them.Kerr didn’t invent Small Ball – credit for that generally goes to Don Nelson – but he took it to levels neither Mike D’Antoni nor Nelson ever reached.Kerr’s prudent manipulation of rotations and minutes allowed Shaun Livingston to finish a vagabond NBA career with one team and five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals. Kerr and his staff coaxed Andrew Wiggins to his full potential when it mattered most, altering the “underachiever” narrative that followed him before and after the Warriors.Gary Payton II’s three previous NBA franchises failed to figure out a way to utilize his unique set of skills. Kerr somehow shepherded Payton, then 29, into an essential member of the 2022 championship team.Kerr’s greatest accomplishments might have been his ability to summon the best of players who rewarded the Warriors with the most successful years of their careers: Jordan Bell, Quinn Cook, Damion Lee, Otto Porter Jr., Marreese Speights, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Nick Young were key contributors to championship teams. All seven faded from the NBA picture shortly after their time with Golden State.Kerr followed the blueprint of all coaches who succeed at the top. He partnered with his best player, Curry, to lift all teammates and build a monument that will stand forever. Those hoping Golden State has a new coach next season should be careful of what they wish.Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Those hoping Steve Kerr leaves Warriors should be careful what they wish for

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