Warriors Expected to Part Ways With $22.5 Million Starter From Title Team.
The Golden State Warriors have a reputation of keeping past championship cores together, though it now appears likely they will part ways with a starter from the most recent title team.
Tim Kawakami of The Athletic appeared on the Thursday, June 6 edition of the “Warriors Plus Minus” podcast, during which he reported that the Dubs will most likely release center Kevon Looney this offseason.
“I think the likeliest situation is that he’s cut, and he makes $3 million from [the Warriors], and he’s off looking for another spot — and there will be another spot for him in this league,” Kawakami said. “Teams are going to want him, again for a very low number, but they’re going to want him.”
Kawakami mentioned backup roles with both the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets or the rebuilding San Antonio Spurs as potential landing spots for Looney.
Trayce Jackson-Davis Has Made Kevon Looney Expendable to Warriors
Kevon Looney, Warriors
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Kevon Looney of the Golden State Warriors.
Looney is heading into the final season of a three-year, $22.5 million contract that is partially guaranteed, according to Bleacher Report. His salary cap hit will cost the Warriors $8 million in 2024-25, though the price will be exponentially more with luxury tax penalties if Golden State can’t get under the cap ceiling this offseason.
The money the team can save by cutting Looney loose, if it ultimately chooses to do so, represents one of several difficult personnel decisions the Dubs face as they attempt to rebuild a contender around Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in a more economical fashion.
Part of that effort includes several young contributors who are still playing on rookie deals. Among them is center Trayce Jackson-Davis, who played significantly during his initial pro season and took several starts away from Looney as the campaign rolled along.
Jackson-Davis, the No. 57 overall pick in the second round of the 2023 draft, ended up starting 16 games compared to 36 starts for Looney. However, the rookie averaged more minutes per game (16.6) across 68 contests played than his veteran counterpart, who averaged 16.1 minutes over 74 regular-season appearances.
Jackson-Davis averaged 7.9 points, 5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks, according to Basketball Reference, and was a bouncier and more effective interior defender than Looney. If the Warriors choose to move on from Looney, doing so represents a strong bet on Jackson-Davis and his ability to develop into a legitimate starting center in the league.
