Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gave a strong endorsement of 2020 No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman in his interview on The TK Show with Tim Kawakami of The Athletic.

“The thing that everybody is going to talk about is Steph’s timeline,” Kerr said. “And I understand that. That’s a legitimate concern. But what I would say is I think James is going to help us win games next year. And it’s OK if he’s not playing 30 minutes. Because we can win games with (Kevon) Looney on the floor. We can win games with Draymond (Green) playing the five."

The Warriors have drawn criticism for attempting to build for the future while making the most out of veteran Stephen Curry's continued stardom. Kerr pushed back on those narratives.

"I think this is all really a good way for us to be good in the next couple years and solidify an important position at the center spot for the next decade as well," he said. "Those things are not mutually exclusive. We can do both. It’s just everyone’s sort of in this panic, ‘You’ve got to take advantage of Steph’s timeline!’ Which I understand. But it’s just not that simple."

Wiseman playing in 39 games (27 starts) as a rookie, averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. His season ended April 10 after suffering a knee injury, while the Warriors went on to fall in the play-in round of the postseason.

Kerr believes Wiseman has to learn the intricacies of Golden State's system to better mesh with Curry and Draymond Green. But he noted that with a longer offseason, growth is bound to come.

"The way I look at it, he’s 20 years old, unbelievably talented. I’ve said all these things many times, but it’s worth repeating. Twenty years old and talented and a great kid. Just be patient and he’s going to develop," he said. "This guy is going to be good. And even if it were to take a couple years, you know, so what? He’s 22 (when it happens)? What, is that late? Is it too late for something? I think we all just kind of have to pause and realize it’s OK for players to develop at a normal rate of progression."

Kerr did add that the Warriors will be making changes to the coaching staff, though he did not specify where, saying, ""We need a little energy shift within the organization." He also addressed free agency, saying the team would look to add veterans that can help in the playoffs.

"“I think when we say we need veterans, I think some of that is just kind of wherewithal and know-how. It’s veteran leadership, veteran presence on the court in big moments," Kerr said. "Those things are important regardless of the position. And I think our team was pretty young this year. Even Wiggs [Andrew Wiggins] and Kelly Oubre, even though they’ve been in the league now for a few years, these guys aren’t what you’d call seasoned vets. They haven’t been in the playoffs a ton."

"I just think, all in all, adding that experience at a couple of positions, regardless of positions is just important for the overall well-being of the team,” he added.