The Warriors have made a decision on the future of two former first-round draft picks.
The team will not pick-up Kevon Looney’s fourth-year option this offseason, but will pick up the third-year option of last year’s first round pick Damian Jones, according to a report by Chris Haynes of ESPN.
Golden State will not exercise 4th-year option of Kevon Looney, league sources tell ESPN. He’ll become an unrestricted at end of season.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 31, 2017
Sources: Warriors ecstatic about Looney’s development, but tax ramifications forced their hands. Damian Jones to have 3rd-year picked up.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 31, 2017
Looney, 21, has failed to show that he can be a contributor with any consistency in his two seasons with the team, but has also struggled with injury issues related to surgery on both hips. Looney was in danger of being cut before the start of the season, but had an impressive training camp, and is coming off one of his best performances in a Warriors uniform last Friday.
There is still an outside chance the Warriors could re-sign Looney in free agency next offseason, depending on how many of the Warriors’ other free agents plan on re-signing for the minimum. If the likes of Omri Casspi, Nick Young and Zaza Pachulia all elect to test free agency, Looney could be back with the team next season.
Looney was selected by the Warriors with the 30th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
