Steve Kerr has seen a lot in his time with the Warriors - championships, dynasties, and the occasional rebuild. But even he had to laugh when a fan tried to play armchair GM in the lead-up to the 2025 NBA Draft.
During a recent appearance on The Tom Tolbert Show, Kerr shared a story that shows just how... creative fans can get when it comes to trade proposals. One persistent emailer reached out multiple times with a bold suggestion: “Just offer Dallas three firsts for Cooper Flagg.”
Now, on paper, that kind of package might sound aggressive - and maybe even intriguing in the right context. But there’s one major problem: the fan wasn’t even referring to the right Cooper.
“He kept calling him Cooper Kupp,” Kerr said, chuckling at the memory.
Yes, that Cooper Kupp - the 32-year-old wide receiver currently catching passes for the Seattle Seahawks. A phenomenal football player, no doubt, but probably not the guy you want anchoring your frontcourt in a playoff push.
To be fair, Kupp does have some hoops history. Back in 2012, he played for Davis High School in Yakima, Washington, and even held future NBA star Zach LaVine to four points in the first half of a state quarterfinal. But let’s not get carried away - that doesn’t exactly scream “NBA-ready wing.”
While Kerr didn’t bite on the fan’s proposal - and wisely so - the anecdote underscores a deeper point: the Warriors are in a position where trade talk is very real, even if some suggestions are more fantasy than reality.
Golden State’s front office, led by general manager Mike Dunleavy, has been quietly setting the table for potential moves. Kerr praised Dunleavy’s work, especially in shaping a roster that offers flexibility both on the court and in the trade market.
“Mike has done an amazing job as GM,” Kerr said. “He’s signed guys who have helped us on the court.
He’s signed guys to good contracts that are tradeable. He’s given us the flexibility to go out and do something.”
And with the Warriors sitting at 13-15 at the time of that interview, Kerr didn’t sugarcoat the situation.
“There’s no doubt at 13-and-15; we’d be foolish to sit here and say we can’t get better,” he added. “So, I’m for anything that helps us get better for sure.”
That kind of honesty from Kerr isn’t surprising. He’s always been a straight shooter when it comes to the state of his team. And right now, Golden State is clearly in need of a spark - whether that comes from internal development, a strategic trade, or a combination of both.
They’ve since added another win to the column, but the margin for error in the Western Conference is razor-thin. The Warriors know they can’t afford to stand pat if they want to stay competitive.
So yes, the inbox might be full of wild trade ideas - some more feasible than others - but the underlying message from the fanbase is clear: they want to see this team back in contention. And Kerr, Dunleavy, and the rest of the front office aren’t ignoring that.
Just don’t expect Cooper Kupp to walk through that door anytime soon.