The New Orleans Pelicans have shocked everyone by making a signing on the first day of NBA free agency. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Kevon Looney, a three-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pelicans used the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level exception to make this deal possible. This was a great way to use that available money, as New Orleans now adds consistency, defense, leadership, and an experienced winner to this young Pelicans squad.
This is a perfect move, as the Pelicans were in desperate need of consistency. Over the last four years, Looney has missed just 14 games, something that will be extremely valuable for the Pelicans. Looking back at how last season went with the Pels having to roster 25 different players due to injuries, adding Looney means they'll no longer have to worry about injury question marks at the five spot.
Looney is a true professional and someone who genuinely cares about one thing: winning. This type of mentality is hopefully something that will rub off on the Pelicans' extremely young frontcourt of Derik Queen and Yves Missi. The 29-year-old big is a 10-year pro and a three-time NBA champion. Looney is the type of veteran presence that can help mold Queen and Missi into exceptional players on the court and even better individuals off the court.
Speaking of on the court, last season Looney averaged 4.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists coming off the bench in 70 of his 76 games played in 2024-25. His willingness to come off the bench is a crucial part of what makes this signing so great. This willingness to be unselfish will allow both Queen and Missi to develop.
After leaning heavily toward offense in the 2025 NBA Draft by selecting Jeremiah Fears at No. 7 and Queen at No. 13, the Pelicans needed a proven defensive player. Especially a rim protector, Looney is that, despite not being known as a prolific shot blocker, he still manages to force misses as he is an elite shot-contester. His discipline is some of the best in the league, as he stays on the ground, never falling for pump fakes.
A step in the right direction
The addition of Kevon Looney has solidified the Pelicans' frontcourt and should make fans happy. The addition of Kevon Looney has strengthened the Pelicans' frontcourt, which should please the fans. Last season, the team's rotation at the center position included Daniel Theis, Trey Jemison, and Missi, which was disappointing. However, transitioning to a rotation of Looney, Queen, and Missi for the 2025-26 season is an unreal improvement.
The addition of Looney now reunites him with Jordan Poole, with whom he spent multiple years in Golden State, winning a title in 2022. Having the championship pedigree of both players can help the Pelicans build a winning culture and strive for postseason success in the 2025-26 season. While signing Looney isn't the flashiest move, it is by far one of the most underrated ones of free agency so far.
Regardless of whether Looney is starting or coming off the bench, the addition was exactly the move the Pelicans needed to make, as Joe Dumars gets an A+ for his first free agent signing.