According to Brad Turner of the LA Times, the LA Clippers have expressed interest in free agent Kevon Looney.
Per Brad Turner, the LA Clippers have talked with free agent Kevon Looney, although he says no deal is imminent.
Looney, now 22 and heading into his fourth NBA season, is a 6-9 forward and center. His length and defensive ability make him an intriguing free agent, and one that could earn significant pay in the future. Looney also played an important role for the champion Golden State Warriors in this past year’s playoffs, playing just over 18 minutes per game and starting five.
The UCLA product has posted career averages of 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11 minutes per game. Last season, he averaged career-best minutes, rebounds, blocks, and minutes.
Where Looney fits in with the Clippers is a topic of interest. Montrezl Harrell currently serves the role that Looney would likely play, and while Harrell is a restricted free agent, the Clippers have shown every intention of retaining him. Perhaps the meeting with Looney was just to set up an option to pursue if Harrell signs elsewhere.
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If the Clippers do sign Looney, fans will immediately fall in love with his versatility on the defensive side of the floor. In the playoffs, Looney showed the ability to guard all five positions, including a particularly impressive performance against James Harden.
Looney’s offensive game, however, leaves much to be desired, including a decent free throw stroke. The big man made just 54% of his attempts last season, a far cry from the league average 76.7%. In many ways, he is still one of the more raw bigs in the league.
The Clippers could likely secure Looney on a relatively cheap deal. The Warriors declined his $2.23 million option for next season, so any offer within that range could swing him.