Even as the Golden State Warriors struggle, they were just proven right after letting a fan favorite leave in free agency over the summer. Longtime Warriors center Kevon Looney spent the first ten seasons of his career with the team before leaving in free agency and signing with the New Orleans Pelicans.
While he wasn’t expected to be re-signed, it likely hurt Warriors fans to see Looney go. However, he has largely been an afterthought on the Pelicans, who are one of the worst teams in the league and short on size. He’s averaged just 2.7 points in 12.9 minutes while appearing in only 12 games thus far.
Him failing to have an impact there proves that the Warriors were right to move on when they did. To be clear, Golden State isn’t flying high at the moment. They have had several embarrassing losses, and their inconsistent play is both frustrating and maddening to witness.
The Warriors were right to let Kevon Looney leave but are struggling
Some of that can be placed squarely on coach Steve Kerr, whose rotations are a mystery to figure out. He has overrelied on players such as Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield and less on Pat Spencer and Moses Moody.
He even benched Jonathan Kuminga, who is now collecting DNPs while being paid $22.5 million this season—great times. Still, the Warriors were at least justified in letting Looney leave.
Golden State is already the oldest team in the NBA, and bringing Looney back wouldn’t have solved anything. Ironically, he was replaced by Al Horford, who is eight years older.
Granted, he’s better and can shoot from outside. Still, that signing has yet to work out for Golden State. In their defense, the Warriors are perfectly positioned to go star shopping in the trade market, with Giannis Antetokounmpo being their top target.
The Warriors may land Giannis Antetokounmpo after letting Looney go
That would require them to part with either Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green, and Green would be the odd man out if it came down to him or Giannis. Them’s the breaks.
That move would make the Warriors roster make a lot more sense, with them likely to move on from Kuminga and Hield in that potential trade. Having a top-3 NBA player solves all.
Pairing him with an elite shooter in Steph Curry, who is still playing at a high level, and a big-game performer in Butler would thrust the Warriors back into title contention. Whether they would be willing to part with Green and up to four first-round picks is a big question mark.
As is whether it would be enough for the Bucks to trade Giannis. One thing that isn’t a question mark is the Warriors moving on from Looney, with them wisely parting ways with a fan favorite at the right time.
