As the Warriors enter an offseason of uncertainty, one of the biggest question marks hovering over the franchise is the future of their longtime GM.
Bob Myers, who has served as Golden State's general manager since 2012, has a contract that is set to expire on June 30. There have been several rounds of negotiations between the two sides, but according to a new report by The Athletic, they remain some way apart on a new deal.
Myers was one of the primary architects behind assembling four championship rosters in the past decade. He drafted Draymond Green in his first months on the job, and he made the decision to appoint Steve Kerr as head coach in 2014. That duo, along with perennial All-Stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, helped transform an underachieving franchise into one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.
Now, the team is reportedly preparing for life without its longtime GM.
MORE: Steve Kerr gives candid view of Draymond Green's future with Warriors
Why Bob Myers could leave Warriors this offseason
The 2023 offseason is going to be an eventful one in the Bay Area.
Kerr is entering the final year of his contract. Green has a $27.6 million player option for next season, but he could choose to test the free agency market this summer. Thompson has one year left on his contract and will be owed $43.2 million next year.
MORE: Steve Kerr talks Draymond Green's future in Golden State
All of those matters would normally fall at the doorstep of Myers. However, his future is equally up in the air.
The Athletic reported that he could consider switching career paths to enter the world of private equity funds, other sports leagues or even media. Shams Charania also tweeted that the Warriors are privately "bracing for the likelihood" that he could walk away.
Sources: Warriors and president of basketball operations Bob Myers have had no substantial contract extension talks in months and the sides are bracing for the likelihood that Myers could walk away from the franchise.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 18, 2023
Details at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/laTCxAfnY7
Kerr made it clear that Myers' contract should be the top priority for the organization in the coming months — even with all the other issues facing the team.
“Our organization has a lot to sort through this summer,” Kerr said. “My contract situation is not, nor should it be, at the top of the list. Right now Bob’s contract situation is No. 1 because that influences a lot of the player decisions that have to be made, contracts, draft, free agency. We will get to my stuff whenever that happens and I’m in no rush for that.”
There are still six weeks for Myers and the Warriors to agree to a new deal. If they do come to an agreement, Yahoo Sports reports that it could exceed $10 million per year. But there is a growing sense that something has got to give in Golden State.
With the team's payroll rising rapidly year over year, it is likely there will have to be at least one key departure. Perhaps that means trading away a big-name player like Jordan Poole, or letting Green or Thompson move on to pastures new.
But before all of that is dealt with, the first domino to fall will have to be a decision on Myers' future.
MORE: Why this could be the end of the Warriors as we know them
Who would replace Bob Myers on the Warriors?
If Myers does opt to leave the Warriors, the top candidate to replace him is Mike Dunleavy Jr., who currently serves as Vice President of Basketball Operations. He represented the team at the general manager meetings this week, per the Athletic, and is seen as a natural successor to Myers.
One way or another, it seems major change is coming to the organization in the very near future.
Bob Myers salary and contract details
Myers' contract with the Warriors is reportedly set to expire on June 30. It's unknown what his salary currently is, but The Athletic reported in January 2023 that Myers "falls somewhere in the range of either sixth, seventh or eighth on the base salary totem pole" compared to other executives in the league.
