Although most of the current contract speculation regarding the Golden State Warriors surrounds a potential extension for Klay Thompson, another situation simmers away with the potential of huge ramifications.
Warrior head coach Steve Kerr is out of contract at the end of next season, with the financial landscape having changed significantly around the league since the 57-year-old last re-committed to the franchise.
Steve Kerr is headed for a huge new contract should he and the Golden State Warriors agree to extend his tenure as the franchise’s head coach.
As a four-time championship-winning coach, Kerr will be hot property should the Warriors not come to the table on a lucrative new deal. His representatives will understandably use that as leverage, along with recent contracts handed out to top coaches around the league.
Following his departure from the Phoenix Suns, Monty Williams inked a six-year, $78.5 million deal to become head coach of the Detroit Pistons. Shortly after in July, Kerr’s long-time mentor Gregg Popovich signed a five-year extension with the San Antonio Spurs reportedly worth over $80 million.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Kerr is currently making around $8 million per season. The deals to Williams and Popovich will likely see that increase significantly should he remain as head coach of the Warriors beyond this season.
“It’s going to significantly impact the head coaching landscape for high-level coaches, including Miami’s Erik Spoelstra (and) Golden State’s Steve Kerr,” Wojnarowski reported before Game 2 of the NBA Finals in June.
It may behoove the franchise to get a deal done as soon as possible, preventing any distractions in what’s an important year for Kerr and his core players. Golden State went through speculation last season with former General Manager Bob Myers, with concern gradually rising before the two-time Executive of the Year announced his departure from the franchise at the end of May.
Based on the recent contracts handed to Williams and Popovich, it’s not unrealistic to forecast a deal where Kerr may earn upwards of $12-14 million per season. The 2016 Coach of the Year is also the leader of Team USA, having fallen short of Gold Medal aspirations in the recent FIBA World Cup.