2. Promoted Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Replaced Bob Myers with Mike Dunleavy Jr. as the team’s new general manager
Sometimes lost in the shuffle of signings, draft picks and trades are the moves a team makes in the coaching staff and front office. We won’t separate out every move, such as the Warriors’ interesting construction of a player development unit. We will be discussing the move to promote Mike Dunleavy Jr. to replace Bob Myers as general manager.
Myers was without question one of the best basketball decision-makers in the league over the past decade-plus, and arguably the very best. He not only crafted multiple title teams, he managed the egos, personalities and tempers of everyone from owner Joe Lacob, to the fiery Draymond Green, to youngsters Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga.
It would have been defensible for Lacob and the Warriors to go for a big, established name, hiring someone with years of experience and with the cache to come in and knock heads around. Instead, Golden State trusted their own culture and elevated Myers’ pick.
Dunleavy Jr. had a long NBA career before getting into scouting and eventually elevating to Myers’ shadow. He hasn’t wasted any time, either, taking the offseason by the reigns and pulling off a big, unexpected trade in addition to multiple other moves. So far, so good.
Grade: A