by Bob Myers is among the most successful general managers in basketball, but at the moment, his future with the Golden State Warriors seems uncertain. His contract with Golden State is believed to expire in June, and according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, talks about a new deal are on hold at this time. “My whole focus is on the season and the team,” Myers told ESPN on Saturday, without commenting further.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob expressed his desire to retain Myers. “We love Bob and hope he’s here for a long time,” he told ESPN. Myers took over as general manager in 2012, and while he didn’t draft Stephen Curry, his fingerprints are in nearly every other move the Warriors have made in winning four championships in eight years. He was assistant to the general manager in 2011, when the team drafted Klay Thompson, and made the decision himself to draft Draymond Green in 2012. He oversaw the search for Kevin Durant as a free agent in 2016 and the subsequent rebuilding of the Warriors after Durant left in 2019. If he were to hit the open market, he would almost certainly become the most sought after executive in basketball.
In theory, Golden State should be doing everything it can to keep Myers at this critical time in their dynasty. Green can become a free agent after the season, and Thompson’s contract expires after the next season. The Warriors just had the highest payroll in NBA history, and if they retain both Green and Thompson next season, they would break that record thanks to Jordan Poole’s new contract. Also, many of the younger players the Warriors expected to take on bigger roles this season, such as James Wiseman, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga, have struggled. The way forward for the franchise, both with Curry and beyond, is unclear.
Wojnarowski did not name potential replacements should Myers leave the Warriors at the end of the season, but an obvious candidate would be Kirk Lacob, son of the team’s owner. He currently holds the title of executive vice president of basketball operations and has worked in the front office for the duration of his dynasty.
Wojnarowski also notes that Warriors coach Steve Kerr is also discussing a contract with the team, but since he has two years left on his contract, there is no urgent need to sign an extension now. The pressure is significantly higher if the team plans to keep Myers. Other than Raptors president Masai Ujiri, top executives rarely get this close to free agency. If the Warriors don’t re-sign Myers, it’s likely he could pick any other job available in basketball.
