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[Saba Sports News] Change appears imminent for the Golden State Warriors this offseason, but one veteran free agent may remain unaffected by the roster shakeup.
Earlier this month, rumors suggested Warriors center Kevon Looney might be cut after nine seasons with the team.
Only $3 million of Looney’s $8 million salary for next season is currently guaranteed, with a deadline on Monday for the Warriors to release him before the final year of his contract becomes fully guaranteed.
Facing a messy salary cap situation and a hefty luxury tax bill, cutting Looney could save owner Joe Lacob some money.
However, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Warriors now plan to keep Looney past the Monday deadline. This decision doesn’t preclude Looney from being included in an offseason trade.
A three-time champion, Looney has been with the Warriors since the 2015-16 season, averaging 5.0 points and 5.6 rebounds over his career and appearing in 600 games (regular season and playoffs).
Keeping Looney is an easier decision given his relatively low salary, unlike the more complex situation with Klay Thompson.