Warriors assistants do not expect Steve Kerr to return next season, per report
Kerr is on the final year of his coaching contract with Golden State
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1 min read
The week has been difficult for the Golden State Warriors, whose season became drastically altered with Jimmy Butler's torn ACL. In the first game after losing Butler, the Warriors lost in a blowout, 145-127, to the Toronto Raptors. Toronto threw multiple defenders at Stephen Curry, forcing other players to beat them. It has been a frustrating week for coach Steve Kerr and company.
With no threat of a second reliable scoring option in Butler, the Warriors are now a far easier team against which to game plan. It puts whatever slim chance the Warriors previously had at making a deep postseason run in jeopardy, unless they find the right trade before Feb. 5.
While Golden State navigates waters without Butler, next season could represent even more uncharted territory. Kerr is in the final year of his contract, and according to The Ringer's Logan Murdock, several assistant coaches on Kerr's staff are "operating under the premise that he will not return next season."
Kerr said in September that he wants to see where things are at the end of the season before talking about a new contract.
"I love my job," Kerr said. "I love what I'm doing every day. I can't wait to get to the building. Hopefully I'm here for another few years. But I think it makes sense for the organization and for me to see where this thing is at the end of the year -- where they are and where I am. Hopefully that means we run it back, we keep going with this group, that'd be awesome. But I like the fact we can do it how we want it."
Kerr also said he was "very comfortable" entering this season on an expiring deal, as he, general manager Mike Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob are all aligned.
"We talked about this -- there's no reason for discussion or concern, " Kerr said. "This is kind of a point in our relationship where let's just see how it is at the end of the year."
This doesn't sound like a situation where Kerr is itching to leave. This all might come down to what path the Warriors take in the wake of Butler's injury. If the Warriors go the nuclear route and decide it's time for a rebuild, then perhaps Kerr doesn't want to be the coach for that era.
