After spending over ten years with the Golden State Warriors, center Kevon Looney surprised many by signing with the New Orleans Pelicans. This marked a significant change for one of the longest-tenured players on the Warriors roster, alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Looney agreed to a two-year contract worth $16 million with the Pelicans, seeking a fresh start.
Looney’s Desire for Agency Behind His Move
Looney recently explained his decision to leave the Warriors during an appearance on the Warriors Plus Minus podcast. Frustrated by contract offers he considered insufficient, he expressed a need to “control his destiny” rather than wait on uncertain negotiations. The contract talks, in his view, often swung between mid-level deals and minimum offers, which made it difficult for him to plan his future.
“I don’t know how they view me, or how much they’re going to offer. It can vary with the Warriors. It varies between mid-level to minimum, and I can’t, like it’s a big difference. I can’t wait on that, I want to control my destiny,”
Looney said.
This feeling motivated Looney to enter free agency, where ESPN insider Shams Charania confirmed his agreement to a guaranteed contract with New Orleans.
Warriors’ Mixed Signals During Contract Negotiations
Looney’s situation last offseason further highlighted the uncertainty surrounding his future with Golden State. His $8 million salary was only partially guaranteed, and the Warriors had an opportunity to save $5 million by waiving him before the guarantee date but decided to retain him instead. GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. emphasized how much the team valued Looney.
“value him so much as a player, as a teammate, as a core piece of this organization.”
—Mike Dunleavy Jr., Warriors GM
Despite this, Looney felt a lack of trust within the team, especially when facing defenders like Steven Adams. He voiced his frustrations clearly.
“When we were going against Steven Adams, like this is what I do. It’s like all right, y’all don’t trust me?”
“I thought y’all would trust me. Y’all really don’t think I’m good no more? Whats the problem… either you trust me or you don’t.”
Reduced Role and Rising Competitors Prompting Frustrations
Looney’s on-court role saw a decline last season as he was frequently replaced by younger players like 2023 second-round draft pick Trayce Jackson-Davis. This shift dented his standing as a core contributor for Golden State. Reflecting on this, Looney revealed how the emergence of Quentin Post in the roster was a turning point for him.
“Quentin Post was the last straw, that’s where I was like, ‘I’m done and I’m out.’ It was anybody but me, it seemed like. Like, even this year, in the playoffs, up against Steven Adams, they weren’t giving me the chance to do what I do,”
he shared.
During the playoffs, the younger players received more playing time, signaling a transition phase for the Warriors and their veteran center.
Impact of NBA’s Salary Rules and Future Prospects with the Pelicans
The Warriors may have been influenced by the current NBA collective bargaining agreement, which pressures teams to manage their salary caps carefully, especially to avoid the “second apron” luxury tax threshold. These financial constraints likely contributed to the difficult decisions surrounding veteran players like Looney.
As he joins the Pelicans, Looney is set to offer experienced depth as New Orleans aims to compete in the challenging Western Conference. His move symbolizes a new chapter where he hopes to regain a more prominent role and influence on the court.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What condition does Kevon Looney have?
A. Looney controlled his neuropathy pain well enough to play every regular season game. He started 80 games, the most in his career, and averaged 21.1 minutes and 7.3 rebounds each game, both career highs.
Q. Why does Kevon Looney wear a mask?
A. According to the latest injury update, Kevon Looney has broken his nose. Despite this, he will play against the Suns tomorrow, wearing a protective face mask.
Q. What disease does Kevon Looney have?
A. He underwent surgery to fix a tear in his hip’s labrum and also deals with nerve damage that impacts his limbs.