Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney will enter his first free agency after the team declined to pick up his $2.2 million option for 2018-19. Yet the young forward out of UCLA has made huge strides this season, going from an injury-prone non-factor to a valuable defensive asset in the rotation throughout the regular season and the playoffs.
The 22-year-old will get looks from other teams, even as a restricted free agent, but will have a tough time saying no to the team that drafted him and stuck through his struggles during the first couple of seasons.
“I mean, this is my first time experiencing it, so I’m just trying to listen to people around me,” Looney said on 95.7 The Game, according to Karl Buscheck. “I’ve got some great vets on this team to talk to that have been through this situation that I’m going to lean on and my agents and stuff like that and do what’s best for me.”
“But this has been a great team for me. I have a chance to play on this team and win a championship every year. So that’s something that’s hard to turn down. (It’s) the team that drafted me. So, they’ve all got a special place in my heart.”
“So, it’s going to be tough this summer. Whatever happens happens and I’m just going to do what’s best.”
Free agency can be intimidating, yet as much as the Warriors would want to keep a developing player who is familiar with the system, they have the chance to grow another one at the same position in Jordan Bell.
Much like Ian Clark last offseason, the Warriors potentially could say goodbye to Looney, awaiting the impending long-term deal of Kevin Durant, already elbows deep in the luxury tax.
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