Is Warriors HC Steve Kerr on his way out of Golden State?

Kerr is in his 10th season coaching the Golden State Warriors, in which the team has won four titles and reached six NBA Finals. But he’s in the final year of his contract with the team, and nearly halfway through the season, there’s been no news about a contract extension.

The Warriors coach downplayed the issue this week on the “Willard and Dibs” show, calling the impasse “just normal business stuff.” But one year after former team president Bob Myers left after being unable to negotiate his own extension, it’s fair to wonder if Kerr is also on his way out.

Why would he go? It’s been a trying year for the Warriors, from Draymond Green’s suspension to the shocking decline of most of the team’s starting lineup. Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Klay Thompson have all struggled in 2023-24, with Wiggins and Looney being shipped to the bench unit.

Kerr is also getting more criticism than ever for his rotation decisions. After he sat on the bench while the Warriors blew an 18-point lead, third-year forward Jonathan Kuminga said he’s “lost faith” in his head coach. (Kuminga had 16 points on seven shots, along with four rebounds and four assists in his 18 minutes.)

But the main reason to think Kerr could be in his final season is that NBA teams generally don’t let head coaches get into a final, “lame duck” season if they truly want to keep them around. Myers took a job with ESPN after his deal expired, and Kerr could go a similar route, considering his years of work as a broadcaster for TNT before he became a head coach.

The 16-18 Warriors are looking at a lot of roster changes. They might get one in the head coaching department, too.