Common mistakes in Steve Kerr’s 2026 November Warriors rotation

Kerr’s rotation instability

Steve Kerr used 14 different starting lineups in the first 27 games, with 11 different lineups in the past 11 games. This constant shifting leaves the roster without any identity. I find the decision to use Jimmy Butler as a center during the 136-131 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers completely illogical. Even after losing Butler to a season-ending torn ACL, Kerr continued his experiments with small-ball lineups, such as the one where he placed Jonathan Kuminga at the five during a second-quarter stretch against Memphis, which allowed the unit with Buddy Hield and Gui Santos to go on an 11-0 run. You should watch how these moves leave the bench thin. Kuminga suffered a left ankle and hyperextended left knee against Dallas, which forces Kerr to lean even harder on a rotation that lacks depth. Al Horford’s absence during recent games against the Grizzlies and Trail Blazers should have opened doors for Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis, but it did not. Post, the former 52nd overall pick, averaged 14.6 minutes over the last two games, which is less than the 16.4 he averaged during his rookie year. He saw less than five minutes against the Denver Nuggets in Friday’s overtime thriller. Jackson-Davis saw just over 22 minutes across both games, failing to take advantage of the opportunity following two straight DNPs to start the season. The team remains unsettled. Kerr told reporters he has no idea if his new starting lineup will get a runway to prove its worth.

Green and the leadership debate

Draymond Green’s behavior creates a massive distraction for this team. Green hit Jusuf Nurkic during a game against the Phoenix Suns, marking his third incident in 2023. The league cited his history of unsportsmanlike acts when handing down an earlier suspension after he stomped on Domantas Sabonis in April. The Warriors are minus-6.1 points per 100 possessions when Green is on the floor, but they are plus-3.9 when he sits. I believe the coaching staff must address this disconnect. Steve Kerr called the criticism of Stephen Curry’s leadership "sickening" following Green’s ejection, but the lack of discipline is hard to ignore. Green’s volatility is a concern. Curry’s individual performance remains elite, as he scored 48 points and made 12 threes in the loss to Portland. While the Warriors were plus-13.2 points per 100 possessions with Green and Curry on the floor from 2014-15 through 2022-23, they now struggle to maintain that level. The team is currently struggling to sync in their 123-115 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Green has only made six appearances since his five-game suspension for the incident involving Rudy Gobert. The team’s margin for error remains thin as they fight to exit their early hole.

Front office demands

The front office wants changes if Steve Kerr returns as head coach. Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr. want more flexibility with coaching schemes and more accountability from veteran players like Curry and Green. This tension persists because Kuminga wants to be traded, yet his role grew in importance following Butler’s injury. Kuminga scored 10 points in nine minutes before exiting against Dallas, and the team was plus-18 with him on the floor. Podziemski answered concerns over his form by scoring 23 points on 5-of-7 3-point shooting against Memphis. Klay Thompson is seeing a decline, scoring only 15.4 points, which is his lowest mark since his rookie year. His 34.3 percent shooting from three is also below average. Klay’s scoring has dropped. Andrew Wiggins also struggles, posting a minus-2.2 wins over replacement player rating that ties him with Jordan Poole for the league low. Kerr and the front office are scheduled to meet again this week to discuss roster construction and whether Kerr can embrace more flexibility with coaching schemes.

Will the front office trade Kuminga before the deadline in two weeks?