Undoubtedly, every million dollars matters for a team hoping to avoid the NBA’s luxury tax, or at the very least exempt itself from its dreaded penalties. The Warriors’ anticipated strategy for center Kevon Looney, a well-liked and demure senior center who has played his whole nine-year career in Golden State, was based on this reasoning. According to his contract, Looney is due $8 million, but only $3 million is assured.
The Warriors were expected to pass on securing Looney’s contract and send him to free agency after he went from being a starter in the first half of the season to a bench player who played in 32 of the final 40 games for only 10.9 minutes per game.
Beat writer Anthony Slater at The Athletic, however, reports that’s not the case at all: the Dubs will instead keep Looney at $8 million, though they may include his salary in a deal. Since Looney’s contract is about to expire, it makes sense to retain him on the books in case the Warriors are able to match salaries in the upcoming weeks.
It was hinted by Slater that Looney’s tenure with the Warriors has been precarious. That in and of itself is a little surprising, considering that Looney is a popular with the front desk workers and is only 28 years old. Coach Steve Kerr and others attribute Looney’s role in keeping the Warriors together in 2023 following the infamous Draymond Green punch on Jordan Poole, and many credit Looney’s role in the midst of the 2022 playoffs for the team’s victory that year.
Looney provides a sort of calm counterpoint to Green’s impulsive demeanor. That is really appreciated by the Warriors.
Slater stated of Looney, “It looks like his tenure will continue into next week.”Currently, only $3 million of Looney’s $8 million are assured for the upcoming season. Monday’s additional $5 million guarantees raise the prospect of his release.
However, league insiders claim that is not the Warriors’ current strategy. Although it is still possible that they will eventually use Looney’s money to assist accomplish an offseason deal, they are anticipated to let him play out the remaining portion of his $8 million contract guarantee.
The truth is that even if they released Looney, the Warriors would still owe him $3 million. This would put them in a difficult situation where they would have to find a center to replace him and guarantee that sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis would have a backup.
The Warriors would have to pay slightly under $3 million for that. It means they will lose $6 million if they cut Looney and replace him with someone minimum. They can just keep Looney there for an additional $2 million.
Or exchange him. With the dual objectives of cutting salary to avoid the luxury tax and rearranging the roster to be more competitive in 2024–2025, the Warriors, who are very active in the trade market, may try to sell a few players—Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins—during the upcoming weeks.
Looney might make it through all of that and remain in one place. Kerr would be pleased, without a doubt. Kerr was obviously having trouble when he spoke about Looney after putting him to the bench.
As said by Kerr, “I don’t think Loon has a bigger fan than me,” according to Warriors Wire of USA Today. “Well, I’ve found it difficult to leave this behind. Just because he’s my guy doesn’t mean he won’t have an influence. Although everything have currently turned against him, I still believe he will.