The Warriors are keeping Kevon Looney around — at least for now.
Golden State guaranteed Looney’s contract in full for the 2024-25 season, according to multiple reports. Looney had $3 million of his $8 million contract guaranteed, but the Warriors reportedly agreed to pay him the full $8 million.
Looney, a staple of the Warriors dynasty, is entering his 10th season with the club. The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the most important locker room leaders, a player whom head coach Steve Kerr has tabbed the “moral compass” of the team.
But it’s a relatively steep price to pay for someone who fell out of the rotation for large stretches of last season. Looney started 80 of 82 and then 70 of 82 games in the previous two years before the 2023-24 campaign, coalescing next to Draymond Green in the front court and starring in his dirty-work role. But he was much less effective this past season, with substantial reductions in his points, rebounds, and blocks per game as well as field goal percentage.
Looney, slower and less productive, lost his active games played streak at 290 and ceded playing time to rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis, a more dynamic option at center.
During Looney’s iron man streak, he helped the Warriors win the 2022 title, dominating the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks on the glass during the playoff run. A year later, he averaged 15.1 rebounds per game in the Warriors’ first-round series win over Sacramento.
Looney’s salary goes on Golden State’s books as its offseason is set to ramp up. They still need to make a decision on Chris Paul — either to find a trade to use him in or release him — and Klay Thompson, a free agent.
The Warriors’ calculus on Looney came down to a few options. They could guarantee his contract for $8 million and avoid drama. They could pay him the $3 million they owe him no matter what and let him walk in free agency. Or they could try to renegotiate after that $3 million figure, potentially keeping him for the minimum on top of that and saving a negligible amount of cap space.
Golden State ended up taking the path of least resistance, and may have to pay a bit more for it. But the team could still package Looney in a trade, likely for salary-matching purposes, or just keep him and look to shed salary elsewhere.
