Usually, NBA locker rooms are open to reporters for a 45-minute window pregame, however on Wednesday evening, the Golden State Warriors raised alarm bells that they could have a deal imminent on the eve of the NBA commerce deadline once they kicked all of the reporters out in order that Steve Kerr may tackle the staff privately forward of their matchup with the Utah Jazz.
Ringing additional conspiracy bells was the very fact they known as gamers who had been figuring out — together with Stephen Curry — again from the ground to the locker room to take part within the team-wide assembly, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
The Golden State locker room has been closed simply now throughout open media time. Steve Kerr is addressing the staff. Gamers that had been on the ground had been introduced again into the locker room.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) February 6, 2025
Simply 10 minutes later, the media — and the remainder of the world — came upon what Kerr was doubtless telling the staff: That Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Dennis Schröder and Lindy Waters the III had been getting traded in order that the Warriors may add (and prolong) perpetually disgruntled Warmth star Jimmy Butler.
Now, the NBA has seen awkward commerce circumstances earlier than — Harrison Barnes getting dealt by the Dallas Mavericks whereas taking part in a basketball recreation most prominently involves thoughts from my 12 years overlaying the NBA — however that is instantly on the Mount Rushmore of weird methods for the general public to seek out out a deal goes down.
Having to carry guys out with made-up leg or wrist soreness in order that they don’t get damage and jeopardize a deal is one factor, however having to name your entire staff again to the locker room and kick the media out so the coach may let a number of guys who had been in any other case planning on taking part in that evening know that they had been gonna need to catch a airplane as a substitute of taking part in towards the Jazz? Or, in Schröder’s case, that they might simply go to the opposite locker room? Lower than an hour after stated coach stated he hoped the staff didn’t “do something loopy” on the deadline?
That may find yourself as one of many extra publicly weird methods for followers and gamers to seek out out a few blockbuster deal that we’ve ever seen… particularly when contemplating that Steve Kerr’s physique language doesn’t sound prefer it was fairly ebullient after addressing the staff:
Steve Kerr simply walked out of the locker room together with his head down.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) February 6, 2025
Now, perhaps he was simply unhappy in regards to the NBA as a enterprise, and having to inform a number of males he’d been within the trenches with that they’d have to maneuver themselves and their households on quick discover. Actually, although, with out psychoanalyzing an excessive amount of, strolling round together with his head down can be a totally rational response for a coach who simply came upon they need to take care of Draymond Inexperienced and Jimmy Butler on the similar time, so it may make sense on a number of ranges.
We’ll discover out which is which in a while, however for now, all we all know for sure is that every one of this was awkward as hell.
