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What does Bob Myers' departure mean for the Golden State Warriors?
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Bob Myers, general manager and president of basketball operations of the Golden State Warriors, announces his departure at the press conference in San Francisco, California, May 30, 2023. /CFP
Bob Myers, general manager and president of basketball operations of the Golden State Warriors, announces his departure at the press conference in San Francisco, California, May 30, 2023. /CFP

Bob Myers, general manager and president of basketball operations of the Golden State Warriors, announces his departure at the press conference in San Francisco, California, May 30, 2023. /CFP

Bob Myers, general manager and president of basketball operations of the NBA Golden State Warriors, will part ways with the team, the two-time NBA Executive of the Year announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

Myers still has one year left of his current contract with the Warriors, and according to ESPN, the team's owner Joe Lacob is willing to offer him a league-top salary. However, Myers still decided to step down, telling ESPN it's not about money.

"If the team wins the championship, would you leave? I think, yes," Myers said.

"The bottom line is, this job, the one I'm in ... requires complete engagement, a complete effort, a thousand percent, and if you can't do it, then you shouldn't do it," he explained. "So that's the answer to the question of why. I can't do that to our players. I can't do that to Joe and Peter [Guber]. Really, I can't do it to myself. And that's the question I've been wrestling with."

Bob Myers leaves the press conference announcing his departure, May 30, 2023. /CFP
Bob Myers leaves the press conference announcing his departure, May 30, 2023. /CFP

Bob Myers leaves the press conference announcing his departure, May 30, 2023. /CFP

Myers was hired by the Warriors as the assistant general manager under Larry Riley in April 2011 and was promoted to general manager after a year. The team has made six NBA Finals appearances and won four titles since then.

They couldn't have become such a dominant team without the work of Myers. In June 2012, Myers drafted Draymond Green with the 35th pick. In July of the following year, he convinced Andre Iguodala to arrive, and almost a year later, in May 2014, he hired Steve Kerr as the team's new head coach. Myers added to the team again in June 2015, drafting Kevon Looney with the 30th pick, and once more in July 2016, when he reached an agreement with Kevin Durant to join the Warriors. Myers added another strategic player in February 2020 when he completed the trade that landed Andrew Wiggins from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Each addition to the Warriors under Myer's watch has been integral to the team's rise from a playoff team to a competitor for top honors. His departure will leave huge shoes for his successor to fill, as well as many thorny problems for the team to deal with.

L-R: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors during the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, November 2, 2022. /CFP
L-R: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors during the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, November 2, 2022. /CFP

L-R: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors during the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, November 2, 2022. /CFP

Contract extension negotiations with Green and Klay Thompson will be two of those problems. Both have one year left of their current deals with the Warriors. Thompson will make over $43 million for the 2023-24 season. Meanwhile, Green's salary for the campaign will be $27.6 million, but he has the player option. Thompson, 33, performed poorly in the last Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Green, who is the same age, is also in an awkward situation because of his poor offensive skills and temper issues.

The Warriors need to carefully negotiate with both Thompson and Green because they both have been parts of the team's core for over 10 years and can still contribute on and off the court. However, the team already has one of the NBA's biggest payrolls, which means they need to pay a terrifyingly high luxury tax.

The Warriors will also need to figure out how to improve their lineup to maximize the final part of Stephen Curry's prime. They also need to figure out how to help their young players grow without letting their underperformance hold the team back.

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