SAN FRANCISCO — Blown-up photos of Bob Myers holding the 2022 championship trophy were projected over the wall-to-wall podium room screen. Front office folk from majority owner Joe Lacob and his two sons, Kirk and Kent, to COO Brandon Schneider to assistant coaches and video coordinators filed in to watch Myers speak. Myers teared up as he recalled his childhood dream fulfilled of working for the team he grew up idolizing, and broke out in a smile as Lacob recalled the 20 phone calls he’d make to his GM every day. Myers’ official announcement that he’d step down from his GM duties with the Warriors felt like a retirement party without the cake. But not much time could be spent celebrating the past with a crucial offseason afoot. The pressing question: Who will replace Myers? Lacob said he would “work Bob for every last day until June 30” when his contract officially expires — Myers asserted he would only be operating in a supporting role on the upcoming NBA Draft until his last day — but he dropped plenty of hints that the new GM hire will likely come from within the organization. “I’m not going to comment on that at this time,” Lacob said. “I will say that we do have a very strong organization, and there’s a good possibility it could be an internal candidate.” Expect the Warriors to name the next GM sometime before the NBA Draft on June 22. It should be noted that vice president of
basketball operations Mike Dunleavy Jr., rumored to be Myers’ heir apparent, was not in the room for Myers’ final goodbye. Perhaps because the team needed someone to deal with the day-to-day operation while the rest of the front office said goodbye to their captain of 12 years. Perhaps to keep a low profile while his name is in the spotlight. Dunleavy is the most logical Myers replacement and is seemingly being groomed for the position. He’s represented the team at the general manager meetings and events and helped steer some of the Warriors’ recent transactions. He was on the court, a visible front office presence, before every Warriors home game. He moved up from pro scout to front office at Myers’ urging after a grueling 2019 Finals run that saw Klay Thompson’s ACL tear and Kevin Durant’s imminent departure. Myers had considered back then leaving his GM post, but asked Lacob for Dunleavy’s help instead. Myers leaned into the idea of Dunleavy being his successor. On his way out, he doesn’t have to mince his words anymore. “Well, Mike’s great,” Myers said. “He’s a good GM, if he wants it, it will be great, if that’s what he wants. But it’s his call. It’s Joe’s call. It’s not my call. But if that’s what he wants to do, he’ll be great. He knows more about basketball than I do. He grew up in it. He was born into it with his dad; he played in it.” Dunleavy, who played in the NBA for 17 seasons, has a dark history with the Warriors. He was their consolation prize in the 2002 NBA Draft, selected third overall out of Duke when a Warriors team with a league-worst record missed out on the No. 1 lottery pick, superstar Yao Ming. Dunleavy shouldered decades of fan disappointment and frustration with a franchise that could never find the right player to take them out of the NBA’s slums. The fans at Oracle Arena would boo him. Dunleavy’s father, Mike Dunleavy Sr., was a longtime executive and coach with the
Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. He won Coach of the Year in 1999 with Portland. Dunleavy isn’t deterred by his Warriors reputation. With Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Steve Kerr hoping to prove they have more juice in their historic dynasty, Dunleavy would be shouldering the future of the organization in a completely different capacity than his playing days. Green and Thompson are both reaching the end of their contracts, which means their future with the team could also come to a head this offseason. “I said I’ll help with Draymond if he needs it,” Myers said with a laugh. He added he had no idea he’d been grooming Dunleavy, a close friend, for his
Job. “I didn’t have an idea at the time that I was grooming him. I mean, he’s more my friend than coworker,” he said. “But he’s really good, and he would be fantastic if that’s a choice. But I’d be lying if I thought, four years ago, let’s bring in Mike and he can assume this thing. I told him, if that’s what he wants, then I’m fully supportive.” Other options internally include Shaun Livingston, a longtime veteran who won three titles with the Warriors and is now the director of player affairs and engagement. He has the ear and trust of the major voices in the Warriors’ locker room. Kirk Lacob’s name has also been batted around the rumor mill as a potential Myers replacement. The eldest Lacob son was seated in the front row for Myers’ press conference. Kirk has been the executive VP of basketball operations since 2019. He joined the front office in 2010, shortly after his father bought the team and rose quickly through the ranks, first as general manager of the Santa Cruz G League affiliate and then as assistant general manager in 2013. Joe Lacob was asked point blank if his son would be considered for the job. “I’m not going to comment on who is a candidate, who is not a candidate at this point,” the older Lacob said. “Going to keep you all guessing.”