PHILADELPHIA — Well before the Warriors would weigh whether reserve forward Kevon Looney fit into their long-term plans, Warriors coach Steve Kerr pulled aside the third-year forward during training camp to give him a message.
“No matter what happens,” Kerr said, “if you just keep being on the path that you’re on, you’ll have a long career.”
The Warriors had since decided not to exercise Looney’s fourth-year option, aware that his $2.2 million salary would have increased the team’s luxury tax bill. Warriors general manager Bob Myers and Kerr stressed to Looney on Oct. 31 that the reasons had everything to do with money and nothing to do with his play or his hip injuries that limited him to only 58 games with the Warriors through his first two seasons.