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In the NBA arms race for the best facilities that seems to get more competitive each year, the Warriors’ decision to pour money into a facility in Las Vegas that was a go-kart track just a few years ago is a reminder of team owner Joe Lacob’s investment in the pursuit of every possible competitive edge. “I don’t know what the other 29 teams are doing,” Harris said. “I’ve told people that will ever listen, ‘No,’ just doesn’t come out of his mouth. (He’s asking) ‘what can we do to be better? What can we do on the margins to do something that’s a little bit different, gives us an advantage?'”
Draymond Green: "I've also seen that Mike Dunleavy and Joe Lacob have gotten a lot of criticism for their lack of risk taking over the last few years, playing it for the post-Steph era. And listen, there's always going to be backlash when you're not winning. It happens to everyone. That's just what comes with the territory. But I don't think going to trade for Jimmy Butler would be considered lack of taking risks, especially signing him to a two-year $121 million extension. I don't think that would be considered a lack of taking risk. I also don't believe that trading for Dennis Schroeder, trying to make something happen, is a lack of taking risk."
[Tim Kawakami] Joe Lacob is focused on building the Warriors next era after Steph Curry: “What Lacob wants to do and this might get Warriors’ fans mad, but he wants to build the next team after Steph Curry.”
What can be passed on here as confirmed reporting is that Golden State — as much as it has been operating with tangible concern that Cleveland is the closest thing to a frontrunner — has not relented in its pursuit. The Warriors, most of all owner Joe Lacob, appear determined to stay in it until the end.
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In his post-draft press conference, Dunleavy downplayed the conversation around the No. 11 overall selection, which turned out to be Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg. Initially, Dunleavy joked that he and Lacob simply disagreed over which was the best golf course in San Francisco.
“As far as the discussion with Joe and I, I think at that point there was probably some talks about trades and things like that, but ultimately we were in all in agreement to land on taking Yaxel," Dunleavy told reporters. "From our standpoint, we knew we were going to pick Yaxel at 11, he was the guy. But you just want to flush him out, make sure you're not missing anything that falls in your lap or makes a ton of sense. So that's what we were doing. And I think Joe was like, 'Come on, just let's go ahead and pick the guy.’ I said, 'Joe, we have time. They give you five minutes.' He was just getting a little anxious about us taking Yaxel. “The good thing was, because we were on the clock, nobody could swoop in and take him ahead of us. So I was willing to be patient with it.”
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Anthony Slater: Steve Kerr goes in depth on his partnership with Joe Lacob. Said they won’t agree on everything. Lacob may not like a decision he makes. Kerr may not love a specific sideline reaction. But they are ultimately aligned.
Nick Friedell: The biggest takeaway from Kerr/Dunleavy press conferences? It feels like everybody is aligned again. Kerr said part of what success looks like for Warriors next season is recommitting to the process of getting better each day again. Kerr, Dunleavy and Lacob all on same page.
What went into Kerr's decision to return to the Warriors? He still wants to coach. That was the first box to check in this multilayered process. Kerr stepped away from the grind for about a week, had an important meeting with Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy, went on a golf trip and came back invigorated about the idea of remaining in the mix. Kerr is 60. There are lucrative media opportunities available to him that wouldn't require near the time or mental exertion, but the ground-zero NBA competitiveness is in Kerr's blood. It's why he never loved front office work, fell in love with coaching and isn't ready to leave it. So he isn't.