The Golden State Warriors could potentially keep one of their best assets on board for next season, as Kevon Looney could be quite the affordable option for them next season.
According to Ethan Strauss of The Athletic, the fourth-year big man could fetch from $3-to-5 million, considering the market price for a player of his capabilities.
“Based on my survey of salary cap aficionados, general managers and other basketball ops workers, I believe the Warriors will still be getting a bargain if Looney re-signs this summer. The responses were remarkably consistent. Every person I asked listed a figure in the $3 million to $5 million range. Even if the aforementioned market forces make such an affordable deal understandable, anything in that range seems like a win for the Warriors. Factor in how Looney has shown recent flashes of a mid-range game and there’s even more reason to like a multi-year deal at those prices.”
Looney's stats in this talent-brimming roster is unlikely to make general managers around the league be willing to make it rain to acquire him, as his 6.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game for the season are not much to marvel at.
Yet it is the 23-year-old organic mesh with this roster that makes him such a valuable asset for this team. For instance, despite Steve Kerr switching to start his Hamptons 5 lineup against the Houston Rockets, it is actually a combination of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Looney, which has posted the highest plus-minus totals throughout this postseason.
Looney has grown in leaps and bounds since beginning his career with the Warriors, plagued by injuries during his first two seasons and magically flourishing last season under the advice of Andre Iguodala, who suggested a better diet and regimen.
The advice reaped its fruits, as Looney became the Warriors' trusty utility big man, one always relied for effort, resiliency, and an all-around jolt of energy at both ends of the floor.
The Warriors will have his full Bird Rights after this season after signing him to a one-year deal this past summer, making him a restricted free agent and allowing Golden State to match any incoming offer for his services.
The defending back-to-back champions will likely have to jump into the luxury tax to keep Looney — but at this point, preserving a key piece with an intrinsic connection to this team and fully-knowledgeable of the system is more valuable than the ability to shop and the five-and-dime and scour for free agent talent.
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