The Golden State Warriors may be dealing with the exodus of Kevin Durant to Brooklyn and Andre Iguodala in a trade, they will retain a familiar face. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that Golden State and big man Kevon Looney have agreed to a 3-year $15 million contract.
Sources: Free agent Kevon Looney has agreed to a three-year, $15M deal to return to Golden State.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2019
In an offseason that features key players like Durant and Iguodala leaving, and young center Jordan Bell being forced out, the Warriors clearly put a priority on keeping Looney. The bruising 23-year-old center turned out to be an iron man in the NBA Finals, where he returned from a broken collarbone to play – albeit in obvious wincing pain.
Kevon Looney started out as a middling big man before becoming a staple of the Warriors rotation. He averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season in a career-high 80 games played and 24 games started. Depending on what happens to DeMarcus Cousins, who now is unlikely to come back given the signing of D’Angelo Russell to a max contract, Looney could be in line for a major bump in minutes. Based on very basic parameters, that appears to be fine. Kevon Looney posted a career-high plus/minus of +10.3 and a career-high offensive rating of 116.3. The Warriors will look different next season, but Looney will be sticking around.
