The Golden State Warriors guaranteed center Kevon Looney’s $8 million contract for the 2024/25 season in the early hours of Tuesday, June 25 (Philippine Standard Time), according to multiple reports.
Prior to this recent development, only $3 million of Looney’s contract had been guaranteed. The 28-year-old in the final year of his three-year $22.5 million deal with the franchise.
While this guarantee ensures that the player remains with the Warriors, the team management could decide to move him on as part of a trade package in order to ease their luxury tax situation, depending on how their roster changes through free agency.
Looney, for his part, reiterated in an appearance on Warriors teammate Draymond Green’s podcast that he is eager to remain with the franchise, but ultimately the decision is not in his control.
“The ball isn’t in my court. I don’t have full control over my destiny, so I kind of have to play the waiting game, control what I can control. I have been here my whole career. I don’t know anything else. You always want to finish what you started and be somewhere for your whole career, but I have been in this business long enough to know that it’s not realistic. I’m preparing myself for whatever. My family’s out here, the Bay’s been great to me. They treat me like family, I grew up here,” Looney stated.
Dunleavy on the Warriors guaranteeing Kevon Looney's contract for next season pic.twitter.com/aWuyvB9LEB
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) June 24, 2024
Looney has been with the Warriors ever since he was selected as the 30th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft and has become one of head coach Steve Kerr’s most trusted players on and off the court.
He struggled for minutes last season as he fell out of rotation following the emergence of youngster Trayce Jackson-Davis. Despite this, the center averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per basketball game when called on from the bench.
The guarantee contract of Looney ensures that the Warriors now have $175 million in salary commitments, including the $30 million non-guaranteed contract of veteran guard Chris Paul. The guarantee date for Paul’s contract is June 28.
Looney has been an instrumental part of the Warriors’ dynasty and dominance in the NBA in the recent past, but with the team struggling over the past two seasons, the management has some hard decisions to make prior to the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
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