What does this mean for Looney and the Warriors?
The Golden State Warriors announced they have decided to guarantee all $8 million of Kevon Looney‘s contract and prevent his release. Golden State ran right up to today’s deadline to make the decision. Looney was previously guaranteed $3 million for the 2024-2025 season.
While some may take this as a sign that Golden State is staying committed to Kevon Looney, things aren’t so simple. Looney occupies an interesting area in Golden States current assets. Starting in 2015, Looney has spent all nine of his professional seasons with the Warriors. He was a pivotal piece of their 2022 championship run and played in every single one of their regular season games. His presence in the locker room is highly valued, causing Steve Kerr to describe him as the “moral compass” of the team.
However, Kevon Looney’s production is declining at a severe rate. In 2023-2024 he primarily came off the bench for the Warriors, starting only 30 games compared to 80 in 2021-2022. A 6’9″ and 220lbs, Looney is the closest thing Golden State has to a rebound-oriented big man. Sadly for him, his rebounding plummeted between his last two seasons, falling from a career high 9.3 per game to 5.7. It seems his health is catching up to him. Looney underwent surgery for two torn labrums back in 2015 and has suffered a myriad of injuries since.
Looney could be used as a trade piece. It is almost certain that the Warriors will move Chris Paul and his very expensive contract. By retaining Looney, Golden State can sweeten any potential deal by adding a vet with a solid defensive pedigree. What the Warriors need is consistent size, which is what Looney used to offer. Including his relatively cheap contract and skillset as part of a bigger trade seems like a no-brainer for all involved. Looney’s future likely depends largely on what the Warriors and Klay Thompson decide to do. If Thompson walks, the Warriors will have plenty of room to hold onto Looney’s contract and may elect to keep the well-liked vet around. If Thompson returns, the Warriors will face even more pressure to cut salary.
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