Warriors Rumors on Steve Kerr's Future, Contract Status After Jimmy Butler Injury

The future is uncertain at best for the Golden State Warriors at this point—especially after Jimmy Butler suffered a torn ACL—and that includes head coach Steve Kerr's status moving forward.

Logan Murdock of The Ringer reported Wednesday that the coach's "future is still up in the air" during what is the last year of his contract without a new deal in place.

"Though Kerr has publicly been mum about his future, multiple assistant coaches have been operating under the premise that he will not return next season, according to team sources, with some surveying the league to secure jobs next season," Murdock wrote.

One of those longtime assistants, Chris DeMarco, left the organization to become the head coach of the WNBA's New York Liberty in November.

Regardless of what happens the rest of this season or whether he signs a new deal with Golden State, Kerr will forever be a franchise legend. He was the head coach for six NBA Finals appearances and four championships.

Five of those NBA Finals appearances and three of those championships came in a five-year span from 2015 through 2019 during a dynasty period for the franchise.

While Golden State is 25-20 and in play-in tournament position, it doesn't seem likely that another NBA Finals appearance will be happening this season. The Butler injury was a major blow for a team that was already struggling for secondary scoring outside of Stephen Curry.

As for the future, Butler will be 37 years old next season, while Curry will be 38. Draymond Green will be 36, and there isn't that much promising young talent in place seeing how Jonathan Kuminga is constantly in trade rumors instead of living up to the expectations that were in place when the Warriors selected him with the seventh overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft.

Unless something drastic changes, it doesn't seem like there are more championships in the immediate future for the team even with Curry still playing at such a high level at this point of his career.

Perhaps Kerr will see the writing on the wall and call it quits after this season. Or perhaps he will sign a short-term deal and remain with the Warriors as long as Curry does seeing how the two franchise icons will forever be connected to each other thanks to all their success.

But at this point, uncertainty seems to be hanging over the team at every corner.