3 Best Moves of Bob Myers’ Tenure at the Golden State Warriors

In an incredibly disappointing but celebratory day for the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, long-time General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Bob Myers announced that he would depart the franchise at the end of June.

The 48-year-old will leave a lasting legacy at the Warriors, not only through the barrage of success that’s come throughout his tenure, but also for the relationships he’s built during his 12-year career at the franchise.

An architect of four NBA championships at the Golden State Warriors, Bob Myers has made a plethora of decisions that changed the course of a franchise.

While Myers will acknowledge that he hasn’t got everything totally right over the journey, the fact is that you simply don’t have as much success as the Warriors have had without the General Manager getting it right more often that not.

There’s plenty of pivotal decisions that Myers has made that’s altered the course of Golden State’s history. Narrowing down Myers’ best decision as General Manager isn’t easy, but here’s the top three in chronological order.

1. One of the best second-round selections in NBA history

After taking the job as GM in April 2012, one of the Myers’ first orders of business was that year’s NBA draft held on June 28. His first selection at pick seven was Harrison Barnes — a success given he’s turned into a high-end role player and was part of the Warriors’ 2015 championship team.

His second-round pick was the franchise shifter though, selecting Draymond Green at pick 35. A four-time champion, four-time All-Star, and one of the greatest defenders in league history, Green is still going strong as one of the best second-round picks of all-time and already regarded as a Golden State legend.

2. The most team-friendly contract in NBA history

The signature of Kevin Durant in 2016 free agency is undoubtedly one of the best moves of Myers’ tenure, but it wouldn’t have come without the most team-friendly contract of all-time nearly four years earlier.

On October 31, 2012, just over sixth months into the role as GM, Myers and the Warriors agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract extension with then young point-guard Stephen Curry. Coming off just 26 games the season prior, the deal was seen as a risky one with a Bleacher Report article at the time even stating, “it’s a little surprising the Warriors couldn’t get Curry for less than they did.”

What resulted was Golden State getting the biggest bargain in history, with Curry becoming a two-time MVP on that deal and arguably the best player in the league. That contract, and a perfectly timed spike in the salary cap, allowed the Warriors to shake up the league with the extraordinary signing of Durant.

3. A lopsided trade that rejuvenated a dynasty

After three championships and five-straight Finals appearances, many believed that Golden State’s reign at the top was over after the departure of Durant and a long-term injury to Klay Thompson.

That perspective appeared right when the Warriors stumbled to the worst record in the league in 2019-20, but one franchise-altering decision did come in that otherwise disappointing season. After acquiring D’Angelo Russell as part of the Durant sign-and-trade, Golden State moved him on in part of a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves that saw them gain Andrew Wiggins and a top three protected pick in 2021.

Two years later and Wiggins had turned his career on its head, becoming an All-Star and the second-best player in the Warriors’ 2022 championship run. Not only has he been a much better fit to Golden State than Russell could have ever been, but he’s simply a much better player full stop.

Russell for Wiggins would have been a great trade in itself, let alone the fact they got the seventh overall pick. That was used to select Jonathan Kuminga — a dynamic forward that still holds All-Star potential. The trade helped extend the Warriors’ dynasty, and with a new four-year contract, Wiggins will be part of the franchise for years to come.0