New Warriors Rumors Uncover Steve Kerr, Mike Dunleavy Contract Buzz Ahead of 2026 NBA Offseason

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr's contract expires this offseason, and new details have emerged about the team's preferred outcome.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater reported that if Kerr decides that he wants to return to the Warriors, "there's a desire from management for him to sign a multiyear deal, team sources said, instead of setting up a last dance farewell tour that would feel more about emotion and nostalgia than wins."

Warriors star Draymond Green discussed a viral moment with Kerr and Steph Curry from the team's season-ending loss, noting that he thinks Kerr won't be back:

Meanwhile, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy won't be going anywhere anytime soon, as team sources said that he "quietly signed an extension in recent months" and has "multiple years left on his deal."

According to Shelburne and Slater, there has been some "external noise" linking Dunleavy to the Chicago Bulls' front office vacancies. However, it was noted that "the Warriors are committed to Dunleavy and he remains committed to them."

That leaves Kerr's future with the team as the most pressing item on the offseason agenda for Golden State. Team sources told Shelburne and Slater that Warriors owner Joe Lacob "will want to hear Kerr express a hunger to continue executing the nitty-gritty details of the daily job, not a reluctant acceptance that he should continue coaching purely out of loyalty to [Draymond] Green and [Stephen] Curry and the sentimentality of riding out this era."

However, if Kerr decides that his time with Golden State has come to an end, it could lead to major changes. Shelburne and Slater reported that the front office "is expected to open up a wider search that would include several external candidates -- perhaps even exploring the college ranks, though there has been an acknowledgment about the complications of delivering Curry, Green and [Jimmy] Butler an inexperienced head coach in their final years, team sources said."

Sources added that Kerr's potential departure would signify "an 'organizational reset' and could lead to further notable changes to the roster and coaching staff." The contracts of many of his assistant coaches are also expiring this offseason, and Chris DeMarco is leaving to become the head coach of the New York Liberty. Former New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green, who was once an assistant under Kerr, was named as a candidate to return to Golden State.

Fans are certainly hoping that the Warriors will be able to keep the band together and let Kerr try to lead the team to another championship next year.