Kevon Looney is not an NBA caliber player

[East Bay Sports]

We should move on from him.

[FrigginFalcon]

We should move on from him.

I understand the sentiment, but would make these points:

(1) He hasn't had one season free of serious injury in the NBA yet (and yes, I agree that's an issue in itself).

(2) It costs virtually nothing (by NBA standards) to keep him for a year or two to see if he will develop further ($1.5 million this year, $2.2 million team option next year).

(3) Since he is a 1st-round pick, the Dubs have rights to Looney that they don't have with McCaw or Bell or any 2nd-Rounder or FA, and that will prove useful if he DOES come around this year.

(4) Based on his performance so far, he likely has little if any trade potential at this moment.

(5) As a result, if the Dubs did release him, it's not clear that they could fill the roster slot with anyone better, all things concerned.

(6) Because he's had little floor time when healthy in meaningful game situations, the coaches have MUCH more basis to judge him than we have. I trust their judgment. Also, considering items #1-#5 above, I'd hang onto him anyway for this season. If he gets hurt again, or if he stays healthy but doesn't improve significantly, I'd drop him at the end of the season, or possibly at this year's deadline if we can find someone likely to be more useful down the stretch and in the Playoffs that we can claim off waivers, from the G-League, etc.

[Badly Browned]

Who is the player the Warriors desperately need to add to their roster to warrant cutting Looney right now?

I could understand not picking up the extension on Oct 31, but for now he's neither expensive nor taking the roster spot of somebody else.

Sure, once the waiver wire get active later in the season, he seems like one of the obvious choices to cut at the deadline.

[watch1958]

Later in the season, they'll likely want a minute-killing backup PG for the second unit, so that they don't have to play either Curry or Livingston meaningless minutes at the end of games. That likely won't matter though for the next 4-6 weeks.

I expect they'll see how the Santa Cruz guys look during that time.

Would Looney be a candidate to dump then? Sure, but lots can change in the meantime. A nagging injury to somebody else could make it a moot question.

[The-Power]

Later in the season, they'll likely want a minute-killing backup PG for the second unit, so that they don't have to play either Curry or Livingston meaningless minutes at the end of games.

We can only have 13 active players any given night and we're too deep to take someone just in case garbage time must be played. Unless of course there are injuried players on our roster already. It's different when we decide to rest Curry or Livingston for the entire game but for that we already have signed Cook. And even without Cook, we can easily have McCaw play PG during garbage time – he's being groomed to be a playmaker anyway.

[watch1958]

Later in the season, they'll likely want a minute-killing backup PG for the second unit, so that they don't have to play either Curry or Livingston meaningless minutes at the end of games.

We can only have 13 active players any given night and we're too deep to take someone just in case garbage time must be played. Unless of course there are injuried players on our roster already. It's different when we decide to rest Curry or Livingston for the entire game but for that we already have signed Cook. And even without Cook, we can easily have McCaw play PG during garbage time – he's being groomed to be a playmaker anyway.

I agree. Cook is actually who I was thinking about, if his time at SC pans out.

I guess my post was just a long-winded way of saying the same thing: No need to move now, wait and see what develops later.

[East Bay Sports]

Who is the player the Warriors desperately need to add to their roster to warrant cutting Looney right now?

I could understand not picking up the extension on Oct 31, but for now he's neither expensive nor taking the roster spot of somebody else.

Sure, once the waiver wire get active later in the season, he seems like one of the obvious choices to cut at the deadline.

We have too many players as it is. Cutting Looney is addition by subtraction. Kerr playing Looney down the stretch against Houston made me sick. He is too cute with his lineups. Looney doesn't belong on an NBA floor.

And I realize one loss ultimately means zilch in October but Looney just provides... nothing. He moves like a 90 year old arthritic woman and doesn't have the skill to overcome it. He can rebound a bit because he is so long but outside of that he is literally useless. No point to him.

[FrigginFalcon]

Who is the player the Warriors desperately need to add to their roster to warrant cutting Looney right now?

I could understand not picking up the extension on Oct 31, but for now he's neither expensive nor taking the roster spot of somebody else.

Sure, once the waiver wire get active later in the season, he seems like one of the obvious choices to cut at the deadline.

We have too many players as it is. Cutting Looney is addition by subtraction. Kerr playing Looney down the stretch against Houston made me sick. He is too cute with his lineups. Looney doesn't belong on an NBA floor.

And I realize one loss ultimately means zilch in October but Looney just provides... nothing. He moves like a 90 year old arthritic woman and doesn't have the skill to overcome it. He can rebound a bit because he is so long but outside of that he is literally useless. No point to him.

I'm sorry, but did you actually WATCH Looney against Houston or in the pre-season this year? He certainly had mobility problems in the past, but I've watched every minute he's played this season so far, and he looks fine to me. He moves and jumps better than Zaza, who I consider to be an asset to the team. Is he ready for prime time? No. But the "90 year-old arthritic woman" comment is so far off base that it makes me question your judgment (and eyesight) in general.

Even last season, when he was <100%, he had his moments. I am fine with THIS GUY being part of the Dubs roster:

Watch on YouTube

Also, admittedly a lower level of competition (Summer League), but Looney is moving just fine for a guy who is 6' 9", 220 lbs., with a 7' 0" wingspan:

Watch on YouTube

In both clips, he provides solid defense inside, rebounds well and gets some put-backs, and shows mid-range accuracy and even drops a couple of threes. I absolutely disagree with the "too many players" comment. With so many talented and healthy players in front of him, I agree 100% we don't need him NOW. But a couple of injuries on the front line could change that, and I also believe that based on his performance THIS SEASON, as a healthy, lighter player, he is well worth keeping and developing at his current salary.

Next year, Durant, Pachulia, Young, Casspi, West, McGee, and McCaw are all uncertain, and re-signing any one of them will be at the prevailing market price. Having the right to keep Looney at $2.2 million could look like a bargain by them, and as a 1st Round Draft Pick, we can re-sign him beyond that at a reasonable salary. With what it will cost to retain Durant & McCaw, Thompson, and Green in successive years, that COULD look like a good deal. Maybe not, but until you point out someone BETTER that we can get for $1.7 million this year, $2.2 million next year, and be in an advantageous position to re-sign, I see absolutely no up-side in releasing Looney.

If superior players become available later on, I think the question is worth reviewing, but even then, Looney MIGHT not be the best guy to cut to make room. But at this moment, I see the potential up-side of keeping him as far outweighing any actual benefit from cutting him.

[The-Power]

Sure looked like an NBA player last night.

[East Bay Sports]

I was pleasantly surprised with his play last night. He isn't as slow as I thought at top speed, but he does have pretty bad lateral movement still.

[old rem]

Likely Looney's best so far.He (finally) looked comfortable on the floor. I figure he's here for now but if Boucher turns out well on his "2 way" that could squeeze out Looney. I'd note..West is expecting to retire and GSW also will have it's own #1 pick next draft.
This earl;y, it's a case of "wait and see" beyond guys who'd been here a year or more. I'd also note that Caspi played well.

[Onus]

I was pleasantly surprised with his play last night. He isn't as slow as I thought at top speed, but he does have pretty bad lateral movement still.

pretty bad lateral movement to be able to contain Harden and now Wall ...

[Mylie10]

I stated last year after one of our games that I felt Kevon could really be an above average defender. Now that he is moving better (fingers crossed) I feel like he will be.

[Phase 3]

Hopefully his good game helps his trade value and Myers can sell high before his player option deadline.

[Mylie10]

Hopefully his good game helps his trade value and Myers can sell high before his player option deadline.

Ok....but for who? For what? You realize he's still the youngest guy on our team. I'd rather trade Zaza to a team that needs a big for a bad of peanuts.

[Onus]

I'm not sure what the difference between picking up his option is vs what he would receive on the open market is, but his length is rare.

[Mylie10]

Hey Onus......question....who would you rather have if you had to pick one and why;

Zaza or Javale?

I really like Zaza and he's such a nice dude. But I'm over his game benefiting us more than what Javale can do. Javale is a supreme athlete who protects the rim. He can score at better rates as well. Ill give Zaza the passing, free throw shooting, and screening.

[Phase 3]

Hopefully his good game helps his trade value and Myers can sell high before his player option deadline.

Ok....but for who? For what? You realize he's still the youngest guy on our team. I'd rather trade Zaza to a team that needs a big for a bad of peanuts.

I’d love to move on from Zaza. The problem is that he’s 1) a favorite of Kerr and that’s why he starts 2) I believe he has some type of no-trade thing in his contract(I’ll have to look that up as I remember reading about it this summer). As far as Looney goes, I’m not sure what they could get for him but I don’t want to pick up his option based on 1 game. He played well in training camp last year, causing them to pick up his 3rd year option, and faded later in the year. I’m fine with keeping him on the roster in case of injuries...I just don’t think he’s shown enough to warrant much of an investment. Obviously some posters here like him and disagree with that opinion. We’ll see what Myers does...

[Onus]

Hey Onus......question....who would you rather have if you had to pick one and why;

Zaza or Javale?

I really like Zaza and he's such a nice dude. But I'm over his game benefiting us more than what Javale can do. Javale is a supreme athlete who protects the rim. He can score at better rates as well. Ill give Zaza the passing, free throw shooting, and screening.

Zaza does the little things. Box out, set screens, be physical. He's just a solid player.

Javale is a highlight machine and is an offensive threat. His defense is more noticeable but he's not a better defender than Zaza. With Javale it's very easy to see his impact because he's such a breathtaking athlete.

I think Zaza helps more because he's a more versatile defender for the playoffs, while Javale helps more against worse defenses.

What's your thinking?

[Mylie10]

I think David West can do anything Zaza does. But no one can do what Javale does. I mean Bell brings some of the shot blocking Javale does, but I like Bell being the versatile defender like Draymond.

I guess my main point is this. The combo of West, Javale, Bell, and Looney can cover for anything Zaza brings. So it allows us to have a better understanding of our future. We need to get younger and Zaza and West are kind of in the way of that process, but I just love West.