Kerr happy with Dunleavy’s ‘seamless’ move to Warriors GM originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Steve Kerr is pretty happy with the job Mike Dunleavy Jr. has done during his short stint as Warriors general manager.
During a recent chat with Shayna Rubin of The Mercury News, Kerr was asked about the transition from longtime general manager Bob Myers to his 42-year-old successor and discussed the budding relationship the two formed over the years and continues to develop now as an executive and coach.
“It’s been really smooth, considering he’s been here for five years,” Kerr said. “He obviously learned from Bob and he and I have built a relationship over the last few years where we’ve spent a ton of time together. Our wives are friends and that was the best case scenario for me. If Bob had to leave, I was hoping Mike would be the guy.
“He understands that we have a window that is still open,” he said. “I think he strengthened our roster with some really good veteran players and veteran leaders and balanced the roster so we had a better veteran-to-young ratio.”
Aside from the blockbuster trade for Chris Paul and the re-signing of Draymond Green, Kerr believes two of Dunleavy’s free agent moves will benefit the Warriors next season.
“We needed guys like [Dario] Šarić and Cory Joseph who have been through the rigors of the NBA and understand what it means to be a mid-roster leader and how important it is,” added Kerr. “Mike really recognized that this was an area where we needed help, so he came out without a lot of resources and bolstered our roster and put us in position to move forward.”
Kerr understands Dunleavy Jr. is taking over a Warriors roster that’s built to win now as the team comes off a tumultuous season that ended in a frustrating loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. The pressure is certainly on the first GM.
“It’s not an easy position to be in, taking control of a team that’s at the end of its run and not at the start,” Kerr explained. “He has a big challenge and I think he has the faith and trust of all the players, coaches and front office people. Because we know him well.
“I think he knows we have a pretty special group and not a lot of time. And I think the moves he made this summer reflected that.
RELATED: Kerr Admits He ‘Failed’ To Connect Warriors Last Season
However, you could argue that Dunleavy takes over at the perfect time. The core Warriors are well-established and know how to win, while the roster, for the most part, doesn’t require much turnover.
Heading into a pivotal 2023-24 NBA season, Kerr is confident the Warriors have the right man for the job.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk podcast