Golden State Warriors rumors: Steve Kerr has ‘significant say’ in personnel moves
During the NBA playoffs, it looked like it was only a matter of time before then-TNT announcer Steve Kerr left his post to join his former head coach Phil Jackson with the New York Knicks.
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Jackson was courting Kerr and Kerr was very interested in becoming a coach for the first time (he had previously served as general manager of the Phoenix Suns). However, after the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, the Warriors fired head coach Mark Jackson and immediately began their pursuit of Kerr. Kerr wound up taking the job, choosing the Warriors’ superior roster over his relationship with Jackson.
According to Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders, Kerr has a “significant say” in the Warriors’ personnel moves.
Although just their head coach, Steve Kerr is getting significant say in Warriors' personnel moves, a source says. They really trust him.
— Yannis Koutroupis (@YannisNBA) August 12, 2014
Kerr of course does have a few years of GM experience, so he does have an intimate understanding of the business side of the NBA.
— Yannis Koutroupis (@YannisNBA) August 12, 2014
Kerr is reportedly one of the main reasons guard Klay Thompson wasn’t dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a trade involving star power forward Kevin Love (although the Cleveland Cavaliers’ deal seems like a better option for the Timberwolves anyway). Kerr loves his shooting ability and his defense.
Thompson averaged 18.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 44.4% from the field, 41.7% from beyond the arc and 79.5% from the charity stripe. In the postseason, he put up 16.4 points, 3.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 40.8% from the field, 36.4% from three and 79.2% from the free throw line.
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