Tag: Kevon Looney

Report: Warriors guarantee Kevon Looney’s contract

According to reports, Kevon Looney’s contract has been fully guaranteed for next season.

According to an ESPN report, the Golden State Warriors have reportedly guaranteed Kevon Looney’s $8 million contract for the upcoming season. Looney has been with Golden State since being drafted with the 30th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, helping the team win two championships during his tenure in the Bay Area.

Looney had previously been expected to hit the unrestricted free agency market, as his contract only had the first $3 million guaranteed. As such, the Warriors could have shaved $5 million off their salary cap heading into the summer. However, just because Looney’s contract has been guaranteed doesn’t mean he is a shoo-in to be on the roster by the start of next season.

“While this keeps Looney on the Warriors’ roster for now, sources told ESPN he could be part of a trade package depending on how Golden State’s roster changes through free agency,” ESPN’s Kendra Andrews reported.

Looney played in 74 regular season games for the Warriors last season. He averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 59.7% from the field. He will now become an unrestricted free agent next summer. For now, though, Looney is contracted to Golden State for next season; whether he’s still on the roster in October remains to be seen. 

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Report: Warriors planning on retaining Kevon Looney past his $8 million guarantee date

The Warriors are reportedly planning on retaining Kevon Looney past his contract guarantee date.

While all the attention is on the future of pending free agent Klay Thompson, the Golden State Warriros will have another decision to make regarding one of their longtime veterans.

Veteran center Kevon Looney’s name and future with Golden State have been the subject of various rumors and speculation as the offseason approaches.

While some reports have indicated the Warriors would move on from Looney during the summer, Anthony Slater of The Athletic recently reported that he Warriors are planning on retaining Looney past his contract guarantee date on Monday, June 24. The Warriors could still include Looney in a trade during the offseason, but they could also keep him on the roster at $8 million next season.

Via @anthonyVslater on Twitter:

The three-time NBA champ is coming off a quiet season, averaging 4.5 rebounds on 59.7% shooting from the field with 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. At 16.1 minutes per game, Looney played his lowest number of minutes per game since 2019. With the arrival of standout rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis, Looney started only 36 games last season for the Warriors.

At 28-years-old, Looney is heading into the final year of his contract with the Warriors.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Kevon Looney remaining patient over Warriors future

Kevon Looney understands that his immediate future is out of his control, as he waits to see if the Golden State Warriors will cut him.

Kevon Looney has one year left on his contract. The Golden State Warriors big man’s deal is partially guaranteed for $3 million. As such, the front office could cut him during the off-season as they look to shave $5 million off his $8 million salary. Looney has been with the Warriors since being drafted with the 30th overall pick in 2015. 

Since joining Golden State, Looney has played a key role in Steve Kerr’s rotation, helping the team win two championships. Looney recently discussed his uncertain future during an appearance on the “Draymond Green Show.”

“I don’t have full control over my destiny, so I kind of gotta play the waiting game, control what I can control. I’ve been here my whole career. I don’t know anything else, so you know, you always want to finish what you started and be somewhere for the whole career, but I’ve been in this business long enough. I know that’s not realistic, so I’m preparing myself for whatever.”

The Warriors are expected to be active this summer as they look to retool the roster, which could leave Looney looking for a new team. Multiple teams will undoubtedly be interested in adding the veteran to their rotation.

Golden State could look to trade Looney rather than cut him and eat $3 million of dead salary. Whatever they decide to do, they will undoubtedly be grateful for what Looney has brought to the team during his tenure in the Bay Area. They will likely look to ensure he finds himself in a favorable situation where possible.

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Warriors could cut two-time championc during the offseason

The Golden State Warriors could opt to cut Kevon Looney to save $5 million in salary.

Kevon Looney’s nine-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors could be coming to an end. The veteran big man has one year remaining on his current contract. While that year is valued at $8 million, only $3 million of it is guaranteed. As such, the Warriors could save themselves $5 million in cap space by cutting the two-time champion during the summer.

Joe Lacob has previously expressed his desire for the Warriors to avoid the luxury tax. According to The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, who appeared on a recent episode of the “Warriors Plus Minus” podcast, cutting Looney would be a logical move for the front office.

“I think the likeliest situation is that he’s cut and he makes $3 million from them and he’s off looking for another spot, and there will be another spot for him in this league,”  Kawakami said. “Teams are going to want him, again for a very low number, but they’re going to want him.”

Looney played in 74 games for Steve Kerr’s team this season, starting 36 of them. He averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 59.7% from the field. At 28 years old, Looney will undoubtedly have multiple teams interested in acquiring him if he becomes available.

The emergence of Trayce Jackson-Davis could potentially make Golden State’s decision to part with Looney a bit easier. The rookie big man impressed when given the opportunity and could be a cost-controlled replacement for multiple years. Nevertheless, losing Looney would be a tough blow, even if it did help move the Warriors closer to being under the luxury cap.

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Warriors’ Kevon Looney makes appearance at Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby

A member of the Golden State Warriors made an appearance at Churchill Downs for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Saturday marked the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the legendary horse racing track in Louisville, Kentucky. When the Kentucky Derby rolls around, the stands at Churchill Downs are filled with an All-Star lineup of celebrities and athletes.

On Saturday, a member of the Golden State Warriors made an appearance at Churchill Downs for The Derby. Warriors veteran center Kevon Looney was in Louisville for The Derby weekend.

Via @warriorsworld on X:

The 150th running of the race came down to the wire with a thrilling photo finish involving three horses. Underdog horse Mystik Dan barely edged one of the favorites, Sierra Leone, by a nose to win. Forever Young ran third by a nose as well.

In a two weeks, Mystik Dan will have the chance to compete for the second leg of horse-racing’s Triple Crown in Baltimore. The Preakness Stakes is held at Pimlico Race Course. The final jewel of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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Proposed trade sees two-time champion leave Warriors

The proposed trade would see the two-time champion leave the Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are expected to make significant roster changes this summer. Joe Lacob has mentioned the front office’s desire to avoid the luxury tax after years of being a repeat offender. To achieve that goal, Golden State will have to make some tough decisions.

In a recent article, Bleacher Report postulated Kevon Looney will be one of the veteran players sent out during the summer. He is set to earn $8 million next season and would likely be one of multiple departures to help ease the franchise’s payroll.

“Memphis Grizzlies acquire Kevon Looney from the Golden State Warriors for Ziaire Williams and a 2024 second-round pick (via OKC). Looney’s sage presence is of immense value to the Golden State Warriors’ locker room, but the 2023-24 season suggested the three-time champ’s days of making a major impact on the floor could be over. That might not be the case on another team, though.”

Looney has been a reliable presence in the middle of the court for the Warriors. He’s played in 523 regular-season games for the franchise, averaging 5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest.

Losing Looney wouldn’t be the only tough decision Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Steve Kerr would need to make, but it would certainly be one of the more difficult ones. Looney has been with the franchise since being drafted with the 30th pick in the 2015 draft. At 28 years old, he is entering his prime and could find a bigger role on another team in the league.

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Steve Kerr praises two key veteran role players

Steve Kerr had some high praise for two of his veteran role players following the Golden State Warriors win over the Utah Jazz.

When you think of the Golden State Warriors, you instantly think of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Chris Paul. Yet, it was Gary Payton II and Kevon Looney who received praise following their roles in the Warriors’ win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday (April 7).

Head coach Steve Kerr praised his two veteran role players when speaking to the media after the game. He noted how their play styles are important to the roster and how both players can be relied upon night in and night out.

“I love watching Gary play,” Kerr said. “There’s an energy about him. He also makes the right play. Constantly catching the ball and swinging it. That’s the way he can dive and finish at the rim. He’s a terrific player. I thought Loon was great tonight. He’s been out of the rotation quite a bit. I hated ending his consecutive-game streak. It was awful. But we did what we needed to do to get our team going…Now, he’s played the last five games…Really fun to see him out there.”

Looney and Payton II have been in and out of Golden State’s rotation this season due to lineup management or injury. Nevertheless, both veterans have been impactful on the court when healthy and in the rotation.

Golden State will need their role players to continue stepping up in the coming weeks. The franchise has a tough road to the playoffs, with two play-in tournament games potentially on the horizon.

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Kevon Looney: ‘I had the best years of my career learning from Dejan Milojevic’

Kevon Looney, a mainstay with the Warriors during their most successful years, has had various roles throughout his career with the team. His experiences extend beyond the court, too, including a recording session with rapper MAYZIN, where he lent …

Kevon Looney, a mainstay with the Warriors during their most successful years, has had various roles throughout his career with the team. His experiences extend beyond the court, too, including a recording session with rapper MAYZIN, where he lent his voice to the single ‘Hot Coffee’.

On behalf of Invisalign, the Warriors’ big man spoke with HoopsHype on the unfortunate passing of coach Dejan Milojevic, the emergence of Jonathan Kuminga, the struggles of the season, and more.

What’s next for Klay Thompson and Warriors in free agency? “He’s a Warrior for life no matter what”

Previewing 2024 NBA free agency for Klay Thompson and Golden State Warriors, with reporting from HoopsHype Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto.

With Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and coach Steve Kerr signed through the 2025-26 season, will Klay Thompson be the next Warriors cornerstone piece to get a new deal in free agency this summer?

Thompson, a five-time All-Star before suffering a torn ACL and Achilles that caused him to miss two and a half seasons, is among the top free agents available this summer.

With that in mind, HoopsHype asked eight NBA executives for their free agent projections for Thompson. Three executives believed Thompson would get $18-20 million annually, and the other five predicted he’d get $20-25 million annually. Four executives believed Golden State would ideally try to align Thompson with his fellow “Splash Brother,” Curry, on a two-year deal. Green, meanwhile, has a player option for the 2026-27 season.

Warriors rumors: Kevon Looney could be a potential trade chip

The veteran big man could be a potential trade chip for the Golden State Warriors heading into the February 8 trade deadline.

The NBA trade deadline continues to draw closer. The Golden State Warriors are expected to continue exploring options as they seek ways to improve their roster. However, recent reporting has noted the team is likelier to make a marginal move rather than swing for the fences.

Kevon Looney appears to be the latest name expected to be floated as a potential trade chip by the Warriors. Yahoo Sports Jake Fischer reported his $7.5 million salary could be a legitimate tool to facilitate a move to bring fresh talent to the Bay Area. Looney’s playing time has decreased in recent weeks following Steve Kerr‘s implementation of a new-look frontcourt. 

“Kevon Looney has seen a dramatic decline in his involvement for the Warriors,” Fischer wrote. “Looney’s $7.5 million salary could be exchanged for various options, whether Golden State ultimately determines it requires shooting, more defensive wing depth or anything else on the trade market’s current menu.”

Looney has been with the Warriors for his entire NBA career. He was drafted with the 30th pick in the 2015 draft. He has won two championships with the franchise, playing a legitimate role in both of those playoff runs. This season, Looney is averaging 5.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists, shooting 61.8% from the field.

Given his size, strength and rebounding ability, Looney is likely to have admirers around the NBA. However, finding a team willing to part with a core rotation player as part of a trade is never easy. As such, there’s no guarantee we see Looney swap teams at the trade deadline, but his diminishing role certainly means there’s a possibility.

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