Sources tell ESPN’s Kendra Andrews that the Warriors have chosen to guarantee Kevon Looney’s contract for the 2024-25 season.
To avoid having Looney’s full $8 million salary for next season guaranteed, Golden State would have had to waive him on Monday. Until now, only $3 million of that amount had been guaranteed, thus releasing him would have saved the team $5 million.
However, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported over the weekend that Looney was unlikely to be waived, citing the fact that cutting him and then signing a replacement would not result in significant cap or tax savings, and cutting him to try to re-sign him to a minimum-salary deal was deemed too risky because he would have other suitors. According to Slater, the veteran center remains one of head coach Steve Kerr’s favorite players, and his opinion is appreciated in the locker room.
Looney, 28, has played with the Warriors since 2015, winning three championships and started 256 of his 523 regular-season games with the team. His defensive versatility, tenacity, and rebounding have made him a vital member of Golden State’s frontcourt over the years, but he had a down season in 2023-24, with averages of 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 16.1 minutes per game.
While Looney will now be guaranteed $8 million in 2024-25, this does not imply he will play the entire season with the Warriors. As Slater noted on Saturday, the big man might emerge as a trade candidate if his expiring contract proves useful in Golden State’s quest to improve its squad.
The Warriors’ next significant salary guarantee decision will be made later this week; Chris Paul’s $30 million deal for 24-25 will become guaranteed if he remains on the roster until Friday. However, there is almost little likelihood that Golden State will guarantee the full sum until it is required to accommodate a trade. It’s also feasible that Paul will agree to shift his salary guarantee date back to July, giving the franchise additional time to consider trade options.
