Kevon Looney Wants To Stay With Warriors

Warriors big man Kevon Looney wants to re-sign with the team this summer, he told Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.

“I’d love to stay here,” he said. “I like being on this team. I want to be there when Chase Center (the team’s new arena) opens later this year.”

The 6’9” Looney is averaging 9.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG in 22.3 MPG during the opening-round series against the Clippers. He’s had two double-figure games in the series, giving Golden State a lift in the wake of DeMarcus Cousins‘ season-ending injury. During the regular season, Looney averaged 6.3 PPG and 5.2 RPG in 18.5 MPG while appearing in 80 games.

Looney re-signed with the Warriors last summer on a one-year, minimum salary deal. This summer, Golden State holds Looney’s Bird rights, allowing the team to exceed the cap to re-sign him, though Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant will obviously be the top priorities.

If the Warriors re-sign their stars and are wary of going too far into the tax for role players, Looney could get a more lucrative offer from another club, as teammate Andre Iguodala suggested last week.

For his part, head coach Steve Kerr gave Looney a ringing endorsement over the weekend, indicating he hopes the front office can reach a multi-year agreement with the 2015 first-round pick.

“For two years now, he has been a rock for us,” Kerr said. “I want him to be here for a long time. I think everybody in this locker room wants Loon to be rewarded for his effort.”