Jerry West: What Will the New Executive Bring to the Golden State Warriors?
If Joe Lacob has made one thing clear during his time as co-owner of the Golden State Warriors it is this: He is nothing like his predecessor, Chris Cohan.
Lacob is accessible to the public, nearly to a fault. He's willing to spend money to take the Warriors from the bottom half of the Western Conference to the upper echelon of NBA franchises.
And he enjoys making a splash.
While his decision to move away from last year's coach Keith Smart was predictable, Lacob shook the foundation of the Warriors franchise earlier this offseason when he brought former agent Bob Myers—and his myriad connections around the NBA—to the Bay to serve as assistant general manager.
Earlier today, Lacob took the next step in erasing the name "Cohan" out of the minds of even the most avid Warriors supporters. The Warriors announced that they have signed Jerry West to serve on the franchise's executive board.
What exactly this means—and what exactly West's responsibilities will be—remains unclear. The team's website stated simply that West will participate in everything from basketball operations to business and marketing endeavors.
Frankly, West's impact may not be felt immediately and could prove greater on the business end than on the hard wood.
But with the way the team's coaching search has crawled along—their search seems to be in stark contrast to that of the Houston Rockets—one could rightfully assume that West will have some say in who will man the Warriors' sideline come next season.
His addition instantly makes Brian Shaw more attainable as their next coach. Shaw was a member of the second Lakers dynasty that West created during his time as general manager.
Shaw's name had already been mentioned as Smart's possible replacement and his connections to the Bay—he was born in Oakland and played one season for the Warriors—make the Warriors a natural fit, even though Shaw could replace Phil Jackson in L.A.
If the Warriors coaching hiring makes the type of splash that these moves have, the team's perception around the league—among not only fans, but the national media—could change instantly.
The Warriors already have the benefit of a loyal fanbase and play in one of the largest markets in the NBA. David Stern can only be counting the days until the team is able to tap in to all of the potential that their market offers.
