The Warriors are entering their nepotism era after Bob Myers’ departure

The long-rumored divorce between the Golden State Warriors and Bob Myers lastly grew to become official on Tuesday afternoon when the group’s president of basketball operations stepped down. Myers didn’t draft Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson, however he was the primary architect behind the Warriors’ 4 championship groups since being promoted to GM in 2012.

Myers’ future was a degree of hypothesis all season as soon as it grew to become reported that his contract expires June 30. The Warriors by no means lived as much as expectations this season coming off their fourth championship, in the end dropping within the second spherical of the 2023 NBA Playoffs to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors now enter a essential offseason headlined by Draymond Inexperienced’s choice on whether or not or to not choose up his participant choice with out the person who helped construct their dynasty.

So, who would be the subsequent lead decision-maker for Golden State? Warriors governor Joe Lacob is anticipated to see a much bigger position for his son, Kirk, per ESPN:

With Myers’ departure, Warriors proprietor Joe Lacob is anticipated to hunt extra outstanding roles for his son, Kirk, an govt vp of basketball operations, and VP of basketball operations Mike Dunleavy Jr.

Lengthy-time Warriors insider Tim Kawakami is skeptical that Kirk Lacob will truly grow to be the Warriors’ new GM, however clearly he’s going to have elevated affect within the front-office with Myers out of the image.

Warriors followers weren’t thrilled with the report.

Kirk Lacob was most just lately govt vp of basketball operations for the Warriors, and was an assistant common supervisor with the franchise earlier than that. The youthful Lacob has reportedly performed some nice work for the Warriors through the years, nevertheless it’s straightforward to see why followers could be apprehensive a few nepotism rent. For his half, Joe Lacob mentioned he hasn’t formalized any plans for Myers’ successor.

If Kirk Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr. are going to be the Warriors’ subsequent major braintrust, they are going to definitely have some massive footwear to observe. Myers was instrumental in quite a few strikes that helped construct the Warriors into the defining group of their period. He drafted Harrison Barnes and Draymond Inexperienced in 2012 throughout his first season. He employed head coach Steve Kerr, acquired Andre Iguodala, drafted Kevon Looney, and signed Kevin Durant. Even the choice to offer D’Angelo Russell a max contract labored out when Myers was in a position to flip him for Andrew Wiggins, a key piece on Golden State’s most up-to-date championship group.

After all, Myers wasn’t good. All the NBA is already second-guessing the choice to offer Jordan Poole a max extension. Golden State additionally completely whiffed on No. 2 general draft choose James Wiseman (Lacob reportedly had main affect on that transfer), and haven’t gotten a lot but out of fellow lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.

It appears like Kirk Lacob can have a much bigger position with the Warriors whether or not or not he’s the defacto alternative for Myers. Hey, he has a variety of expertise and a powerful status across the group. It’s definitely potential he might do an amazing job. Nonetheless, selling the proprietor’s child after dropping a franchise icon like Myers is a transfer that might be second-guessed throughout a pivotal offseason for Golden State. Stephen Curry can nonetheless be one of the best participant on a championship group at 35 years previous, however Inexperienced is a free agent, Thompson’s sport has slipped, and signing Poole already looks like an enormous mistake.

The Warriors ought to really feel large strain about salvaging the remaining years of Curry’s prime by acing this offseason. These selections aren’t in Myers’ fingers anymore.