Kevon Looney decided to leave the Golden State Warriors after 10 seasons when free agency opened, agreeing to a two-year $16 million deal to join the Pelicans. And after his recent appearance on the Warriors Plus Minus podcast, he didn't mince words when asked about why he departed Golden State after 10 years. Looney said.
"We’re going up against Steven Adams—those are the matchups I thrive in. But I wasn’t given the chance to do my job… Even in the playoffs, it felt like they didn’t trust me, and I really thought I had earned that trust.”
Looney wasn't upset because he felt he needed to play 30+ minutes a game; instead, he just knew he could thrive in specific matchups that the Warriors were struggling with.
Looney saw his minutes disappear because of rookie Quinton Post, who, despite providing a ton offensively as a stretch-five, didn't have the experience or defensive ability Looney has. Another factor was Steve Kerr's desire to play small ball and utilize Draymond Green at the five.
This frustration is understandable. Looney did nothing but be loyal and put trust in the organization, but they did not reciprocate that same trust. Which is crazy, seeing how instrumental he was in Golden State winning three championships.
This entire debacle has left the Warriors without a starting center, and it has given the Pelicans a gift. No one expected Looney to depart the Warriors after 10 years and three championships, but he did, and his level of experience is going to be a massive boost for the Pelicans' locker room.
The Pelicans plan on competing next season, and Looney is going to help them do that. Over his 10-year career, he has consistently been a winner and someone who fills whatever role is needed. With the amount of offensive talent the Pelicans already have, he'll likely only have to set screens and rebound, which was his exact role during the Warriors' title-winning seasons.
Looney is a perfect addition to this Pelicans roster, and although his simple style of play was overlooked in Golden State, it won't be in New Orleans.
Golden State is struggling to recover from Looney's departure
After Looney departed, rumors flared up suggesting the Warriors were going to sign NBA Champion big Al Horford. However, according to Marc Spears, the traction of Horford to the Warriors has come to a halt, as he is in no rush to make a decision on where his next home will be.
This makes the loss of Looney look even worse, as Golden State is unsure whether Horford will even be an option. It's safe to say that the Warriors messed up by damaging their relationship with Looney and are now in a scramble to find his replacement.
Thankfully for the Pelicans, Looney's departure from the Bay has only made them stronger, while also leaving a conference rival with a huge hole that has yet to be filled.