Golden State Warriors: Grading The Offseason
Drafting Looney
With the 30th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, it seemed highly unlikely the Warriors were going to land the potential steal of the draft. However, when Kevon Looney fell to Golden State as the last first round selection, the rich may have gotten even richer.
Originally projected as a lottery pick at one point, Looney’s draft stock took a nosedive due to a hip injury that had many questioning just how much he’d be able to contribute as a rookie. An ESPN report the morning of the draft even went as far as saying, “he probably misses the season.”
The report was refuted by Looney’s camp, but according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, Looney’s health issues could run even deeper:
According to a NBA executive, Kevon Looney was red-flagged with a degenerative back as well as a hip issue. May require surgery down road.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 26, 2015
However, what better place is there for this potential boom-or-bust prospect to develop into a quality NBA player than the winning culture in Oakland right now? At 19 years old, this 6’9″ power forward is bursting with potential, raw though it may be.
At 222 pounds, Looney has a pretty wiry frame and he’ll need to bulk up to hold his own at the next level. But he’s the exact kind of versatile, multi-positional player the Warriors featured during their championship run this past season, and despite being so skinny, Looney is extremely active on the offensive glass — averaging 3.4 offensive boards per game at UCLA.
As a freshman, Looney averaged 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while leading the Bruins in three-point percentage at 41.5 percent. That came on a very limited number of attempts (1.5 per game), but there’s no question he has the potential to spread the floor as a stretch-4.
The road fork of Looney's future is whether he hits 3s. If so, he's a stretch 4 with a 9' 2" standing reach -- a good thing to be
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) July 17, 2015
At NBA Summer League, Looney flashed his potential and averaged a respectable 9.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 41 percent from the floor and converting three of his six three-point attempts.
Playing for a lesser team, there might have been pressure on Looney to fill an important or immediate role. Instead, he’ll be able to learn the NBA game within a championship culture from some of the most innovative minds basketball has to offer right now. That will set him and the Warriors up for future success in the long run.
More importantly, the Warriors don’t need Looney to come in and make an impact right away. If he needs time for surgery or to rehab that hip, Golden State can absolutely afford it with almost everyone back for next season. But provided he can stay healthy, Kevon Looney could wind up being a home run for the defending champs.
Grade: A
Next: Staying Green