Another piece of the Warriors greatness is fading away. The Warriors have now seen another piece of their famed dynasty walk away as GM Bob Myers, who has helped lead the team to the last 4 NBA titles, has officially resigned from his post.
This guy is truly one of the best GMs the league has seen this last decade.
Famed Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers is stepping away from the team after 12 years in charge in which he oversaw 5 division titles (2014-19), a 73-win season (2015/16), 6 Western Conference Titles, 4 NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022), the greatest dynasty of the 2010’s/early 2020’s, and two personal Executive of the Year awards (2015, 2017). And, even though his absence leaves a huge void in the Warriors front office, it’s a more than earned rest for a GM of Myers quality.
I understand a lot of people have been saying online that Myers really “didn’t build the Warriors” or he doesn’t “deserve all the praise” or, even worse in my opinion, that he’s “overrated” due to his drafting history and the recent contracts he’s given out, but I find all of these claims to be laughable.
First off, Myers showed excellent restraint in keeping Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson together after two years of missing the playoffs from 20120-2021 as most GMs would have broken up the dynasty there and then.
I mean, most people would have looked at a roster with great but aging, injury-prone superstars mixed in with unproven young stars and blown the whole thing up, but Myers did the sensible thing of keeping the old core together and winning another championship with the young core’s help.
And, in what has to be Myers’ best quality, he’s been a master trade negotiator/finder.
He made an excellent decision in bringing Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors as even though it seems rather obvious now bringing KD was a great idea, the move was somewhat criticized back then.
Essentially, a lot of people claimed KD’s ego wouldn’t blend in well with the Warriors dynasty and the egos of Steph, Draymond, and Klay (which did end up being the case in the end), but the Warriors were able to secure two championships and secure the dynasty while KD was on the team.
And, as for a more recent move, acquiring Andrew Wiggins, who was widely seen as a bust by most teams in the league, was the catalyst move that saw the Warriors win the 2022 championship as his play against the Celtics could have won him the Finals MVP if Steph didn’t go off in that series.
I know there’s reports out that he nearly traded away Klay Thompson for Kevin Love but Jerry West overruled him but what matters is he didn’t, and he kept the dynasty team together.
As for Myers’ draft history, it’s really not as bad as many of his detractors would have you believe.
Since Myers was promoted into the GM position on April 24, 2012, he has drafted Dyamond Green (2012; won 4 titles), Harrison Barnes (2012; won 1 title), Kevon Looney (2015; won 3 titles), Jordan Poole (2019; won 1 title), Moses Moody (2021; won 1 title), and Jonathan Kuminga (2021; won 1 title).
Are any of these players Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan? No, obviously not. Were all of these players crucial in winning at least one title of the Warriors four since 2015? Yes, most definitely.
I’m not saying Myers is Red Auerbach, Jerry West, Pat Riley, Pat Williams, Jerry Krause, or R.C. Buford, but he is a GM that knew his abilities and he maintained the best dynasty of the 2010’s. If that’s not the mark of a great steward, which GMs are tasked with being, then I don’t know what is.
As for the Warriors, I don’t know who they will be able to bring in to replace even 50% of Myers capabilities. I’ve heard rumors that it could either be Karl Lacob, the son of legendary owner Joe Lacob, or former Warriors guard and current day Vice President of Basketball Operations Mike Dunleavy Jr., but I doubt either one of those guys will be able to achieve what Myers did with this organization.
Though, I guess only time will tell.
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