Well, SoCalBobcat78 may turn out to be right about Looney not being traded, but for the wrong reasons.
Monte Poole (CSNBA reporter - considered the top local reporter, who always has the inside of the Warriors organization) said this
Quote:The Warriors, according to multiple league sources, had very defined goals for the 6-9 forward drafted in 2015: the wanted the UCLA product to be healthy and impressive in hopes of attracting trade offers.
That didn’t work out so well. Though Looney played in five games, averaging 6.8 points (44.1 percent from the field) and 6.4 rebounds, surgeries on both hips clearly hinders his athleticism. Though he occasionally makes an impact on the glass, it has become evident that his path to an NBA career will be steeply uphill.
Marcus Thompson (SJ Mercury News) put it this way
Quote:Third-year big man Kevon Looney has shown scarce growth and though finally healthy still moves like ketchup in a glass bottle.
Connor Letourneau (SF Chronicle) had this to say
Quote:Kevon Looney: After two seasons defined by injuries and limited production, Looney arrived in Las Vegas still trying to show that he is an NBA-caliber player. Now, after looking overwhelmed at times in Summer League, he faces even more questions.
Will he ever regain the explosiveness he had before undergoing two hip surgeries as a rookie? Would Golden State be best off waiving Looney before training camp to free up a roster spot for another young player?
In his five Summer League games, Looney’s averages (6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds) were markedly worse than his numbers two years ago. Looney will have a tough time cracking the rotation next season — that is, if he’s still on the roster.
Letourneau echos what is being asked in the Warriors camp by Meyer, Kerr, and assistant Adam (who seems to speak a lot to these three guys but is never quoted -I think he is the unnamed source- and he is the team's decider on bigs) that the team is trying to move, and if they can't find a taker, cut him.
Jones was not maddeningly inconsistent, making one good play, then losing focus. He looks like a guy who needs a lot of play time, but the Warriors can only send two players down, and you know Bell will get time in Santa Cruz, so there is only a spot for one more, and that will be Jones, not Looney.
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The 15th spot is being held for JaVale McGee. Swaggy P says his choice of numbers is either 1 (his preferred but also McGee's number) or 6. So it's clear they are waiting on him.
The reporters seem to think the Warriors wont an open slot to bring in somebody to help should they get an injury, or to bring a prospect in. And again Looney is the guy that has to go.
I don't think they will get a team to take Looney off their hands (ideally they'd trade for a non-guaranteed minimum player and just cut them to get it off the books). But I think they will just have to cut him and give him a cash settlement. They spent $3.5M to buy Bell, so they'll spend $2.8M ($1.4M salary, $1.4M luxury tax) to dump Looney (saves them $14.5M the following two years to get his contract off the books). He is clearly at least 2 years away from ever making an NBA roster. Those 3 hip surgeries ruined any chance he had.
Jones needs to show something by mid-season. He becomes cheap to unload in the 2nd half of the season if he doesn't progress. There are veterans sitting out there the Warriors can pick up for bench depth. (However Jones is a small trade piece if they keep him). Jones does have some good qualities, such as an excellent mid-range, but he may need some years to develop.