Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr thinks that decisions like Anthony Davis’ midseason request for trade are “damaging for everybody,” in the league and “disturbing.”
Kerr spoke his mind on the importance of players honoring their contracts on the NCA Sports Bay Area Warriors Insider Podcast, speaking with host and reporter Monte Poole. Poole gave Kerr the opportunity to share his thoughts on the wild free agency period this summer and Kerr acknowledge the unusually high number of big names who reached the free agency point leading into the offseason and the number of money teams had to spend, saying “As a former player, I lean toward player empowerment, guys who have earned their right to free agency.”
The Warriors leader means players like Kevin Durant, who acted on his desire for a new environment once he became a free agent, and Kerr also pointed to LeBron James’ similar decision when he joined the Lakers from Cleveland last summer. But, Kerr made it clear that he doesn’t believe players should disrespect their contracts and exit midway.
“My only issue is when a player who is under contract decides not to honor his contract,” Kerr said.
Poole agreed with the coach that there were such instances of other contracted players making big moves amid this summer’s free agents and the host brought up the Oklahoma City Thunder, Paul George and Russell Westbrook. Kerr defended that situation as an instance in which the organization and the players agreed a need for a new direction was best and clarified who specifically he was speaking about — Anthony Davis and his request in January to leave New Orleans a year before becoming a free agent.
“Where a guy is perfectly healthy and has a couple years left on his deal and says, ‘I want to leave,’ I think that’s a real problem that the league has to address, that the players have to be careful with,” Kerr said on the podcast.
