According to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype, three teams expressed interest in trading for Kevon Looney this summer before ultimately pursuing a different strategy. Scotto named New York, Oklahoma City, and Memphis as the three squads that previously showed interest in Looney.
It is not surprising that a trio of teams were interested in Looney. The Knicks, Thunder, and Grizzlies needed a solid backup center to fill out their second unit.
Looney is the ultimate professional. The -28-year-old knows his strengths and weaknesses and plays within those confines. He also has never complained about his limited role with Golden State, which has been reduced even further over the last two years.
3 Teams Who Could Have Interest In Trading For “Cheap” Golden State Big Man Before Trade Deadline
A physical and athletic specimen, Looney is extremely limited offensively. He has produced one double-double this season.
Despite taking about 90% of his shots in the paint, he is not a good finisher at the rim—having a 71.1% from within 3 feet. Looney averages 5.5 points on 4.3 shots (53.2%) this season, and all those points have come inside the paint or the free-throw line.
On the plus, Looney doesn’t require plays to be called for himself. The 6-9 big runs is a superb offensive rebounder, topping the league with an 18.7% rebound percentage. He converts 3.7 of his offensive rebounds into 2.2 points (off putbacks). While Looney also runs the floor well (averaging 1.0 transition points per game), he is an outstanding screener, being credited with 2.9 screen assists that have resulted in 7.3 points for the Warriors.
Looney is extremely physical defensively, and while that can get him into foul trouble, he thrives on that end. Looney is an elite rim-protector, and he holds his opponents to a 49.1% success rate within 6 feet. More importantly, he helps keep opponents out of the paint, as opponents are putting up 14.2 paint points while he is on the floor.
Looney is also a fantastic defensive rebounder and is very active on that end. He doesn’t block many shots, though he does average nearly a steal a game and gets several deflections.
Would New York, Oklahoma City, or Memphis Still Be Interested In Looney?
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City is atop the Western Conference standings at 16-5. The Thunder ultimately decided to sign Isaiah Hartenstein to a huge deal to backup and to play at times alongside Chet Holmgren. But Hartenstein recently made his debut, and Holmgren, who has been out since December 11, is expected to be sidelined until the end of January.
These developments have forced Jalen Williams to once again spend most of his minutes at power forward. While Williams has been fantastic on both ends for the Thunder, his lack of size and dearth is problematic for the Thunder.
OKC is the top defensive team in the NBA, and they have one of the league’s best frontcourts. However, the Thunder are among the worst rebounding teams, corralling 47.1% of all available boards. While the Thunder are average on the offensive glass, they permit their opponents to grab an offensive rebound at a 34% rate (13.1), converting those second chances into a league-high 16 points.
Jaylin Williams (hamstring) has yet to make his debut, and Ousmane Dieng (finger fracture) is out until the end of the month. Kenrich Williams has played pretty well in his 13 minutes since being activated in mid-November while serving as the Thunder’s primary backup at center.
OKC has 15 players under standard contracts, though only 13 are fully guaranteed. Williams and Branden Carlson have nonguaranteed deals (until January 10). The Thunder are about $8.9 below the tax threshold and over $16 million from being hard capped at the first apron.
New York Knicks
New York has been shorthanded up front all season long. As a result, the Knicks have gotten off to a relatively slow start at 13-8.
While the Knicks’ two big trades for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges have hurt their depth and financial flexibility overall, the injuries to Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson have caused them most consternation.
The Knicks have been excellent on the offensive end but not so much defensively. They rank 21st in defensive efficiency, as their opponents shoot 46% from the field and 36% from the 3-point line.
New York’s most glaring issue is that they don’t have a rim protector, and many players on both their first and second units are playing out of position. The Knicks also don’t force many turnovers.
Opposing centers expose Towns in the low post, while Josh Hart is schooled by bigger small forwards in the interior. Their point guards—Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, and Cameron Payne—compete defensively, but they are physically limited by their quickness and slight stature.
Achiuwa is expected to return to make his season debut soon and is listed as questionable for tonight’s game against Charlotte. Meanwhile, Robinson was cleared for basketball activities a few weeks ago, but he is still considered at least a month away from returning.
New York has an open roster spot and two players on nonguaranteed pacts. However, the Knicks are just $500,000 from being hardcapped at the second tax apron.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis sits fourth in the West with a 14-8 record. The Grizzlies didn’t do much this offseason besides drafting Zach Edey with the No. 9 pick and inking Jay Huff to a two-way deal before promoting him to a standard deal.
While Memphis has dealt with several injuries already, the Grizzlies have been pretty healthy in the frontcourt. However, Edey has missed the past eight games with an ankle injury, although he has been assigned to the Grizzlies’ G-League team. He reportedly is targeting to return on Saturday.
Meanwhile, GG Jackson has missed the first month and a half while recuperating from foot surgery. The team reports that the 19-year-old will need more time as he is expected to miss another six to eight weeks.
Memphis has been strong defensively, led by defensive phenom Jaren Jackson Jr., but the Grizzlies have struggled on the defensive glass, especially when Jackson is off the floor. The Grizzlies rank 15th in paint points allowed and 22nd in second-chance points.
While Edey started the first nine games, he came off the bench in the five contests before being injured. Brandon Clarke has started the past 12 games at power forward, with Jackson being shifted to center. Clarke has seen about six more minutes of court time since Edey’s injury. With Edey sidelined, Santi Aldama, Jake LaRavia, and Huff have been the leading frontcourt players off the bench.
Memphis is already a taxpayer, but the Grizzlies, who are not handicapped, are over $16 million clear of the punitive tax apron.
Would The Warriors Trade Looney?
Golden State has been one of the surprising teams in the NBA. The Warriors are 12-8 on the season despite having lost five straight. The Warriors have lost De’Anthony Melton for the season with an ACL injury. Draymond Green is dealing with a calf injury, which the 34-year-old forward said he is concerned about, and Stephen Curry will likely miss a game due to injury management—like Thursday against Houston.
Golden State is a deep team, generally playing 13 players. The Warriors are also one of two teams, with OKC being the other, with a top-team offense and top-five defense. But the Warriors have struggled offensively over the last ten contests, registering a 108.2 offensive rating (five points worse than the season average), which is 25th during this stretch. On a positive note for the Dubs, the defense has remained solid during this 10-game stretch.
Prior to the season, Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said that he liked the team’s moves this offseason but is always looking to improve. So, would the Warriors consider trading Looney?
Final Word
Looney is making $8 million in the final year of a three-year deal. Looney came off the bench in the first 18 games but was inserted into the starting lineup against Denver on Tuesday. He turned in one of his best performances against the Nuggets as he tallied five points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and doled out a season-high five assists while recording two steals and a block.
Looney averages 5.5 points, 7.8 rebounds (3.4 offensive), and 1.6 assists, though he shoots just 53.2% from the field. He has produced one double-double, six double-digit rebound games, and at least one steal in half of his 18 appearances.
While defense and rebounding are his strengths, he is not a shot-blocker. He also struggles from the free-throw line, shooting a career-low 45.9% from the charity stripe, and is not a threat from the perimeter.
Golden State outscores its opponents by 2.1 points when Looney is on the court. But the Warriors have actually better (+4.0) when he is off the floor.
So, yes, I believe that the Warriors would trade Looney. The Warriors have an open roster spot, though they are only $ 530,000 from being hard-capped at the first apron. As a result, I could see Looney being dealt as a salary dump or part of a bigger deal since the Dubs could use some frontcourt scoring and height.
Looking At Looney’s Fits With Thunder, Knicks, and Grizzlies
I also believe that all three teams—the Thunder, Grizzlies, and Knicks—would be interested in Looney. However, given the financial constraints of both the Knicks and Warriors, New York would have the most trouble trading for Looney.
Looney would be a terrific option for OKC behind Holmgren and Hartenstein, and unless the Thunder really believe in Jaylin Williams, I think they would jump at the opportunity.
However, Memphis may be the best fit for Looney. Edey’s return and Jackson making his season debut will likely help the Grizzlies’ defensive rebounding issue. But I’m not sure they would make a huge difference in the playoffs or truly be prepared if the Griz have intentions of truly “competing” in the West.
Additionally, Memphis has really struggled to defend the paint and prevent second-chance opportunities since Eady has been out. Both Jackson and Eady have dealt with troubling leg injuries. Looney is a definitive upgrade over LaRavia and Huff on the defensive end, at least.
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