To get their hands on Kawhi Leonard and make the most of his tenure, the Golden State Warriors would have to check off certain boxes. This list includes trading for complementary role-playing pieces, extending franchise icon Stephen Curry, and gathering enough draft capital to please the LA Clippers. But, before all of that, the first step was to secure a future Steve Kerr, who has been at the helm of all of the Warriors’ success, and they did.
Kerr was just signed to a two-year contract by the Warriors’ front office, which perfectly aligns with the ages of Curry(38), Leonard(35 in June), and even Draymond Green(36), who’s been another building block for Golden State. Once his term is up, each of these stars will be at the end of their careers.
BREAKING: Steve Kerr has agreed on a new two-year contract to return as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Dan Eveloff and Rick Smith of @PrioritySports tell me, @anthonyVslater and @ramonashelburne. After three weeks of extensive conversations, Kerr and the Warriors agreed… pic.twitter.com/nLwcpOLJZb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 10, 2026
Re-signing Steve Kerr hints that a trade for Kawhi could be in the works
Had the Golden State Warriors concluded that it was time to rebuild after missing the postseason, they would’ve pivoted towards another head coach on the market and proceeded accordingly. This is the move most organizations make to signal new beginnings.
However, by holding on to Steve Kerr, it’s clear the Warriors feel like they have unfinished business, despite winning four championships in the last 15 seasons.
To do so, another superstar has to join Stephen Curry’s side. It was supposed to be Jimmy Butler, but an unfortunate torn ACL ruined those plans.
While there are a few expected to be on the market outside of Kawhi Leonard, like Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the seven-time All-Star makes the most sense.
He just had the best offensive season of his basketball career, averaging 27.9 points while shooting 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc through 65 contests, and his playstyle would work extremely well next to Curry.
Additionally, for what it’s worth, rumors surfaced during the regular season that Golden State was interested in Leonard at the trade deadline following James Harden’s departure.
Though the LA Clippers reportedly declined then, they may feel like it’s time to fully embrace a fresh start after having their playoff hopes cut short by the Warriors in the first round of the Play-In Tournament.
That said, with Kerr remaining in charge, it’s become even more likely that a major name is going to be added to the Warriors soon, and all things considered, the two-time champion may be at the top of their radar.
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