2.8 Points, 5.6 Boards: Why Kevon Looney's Pelicans Stint Was Always Going to End Like This

Alright, sports fans, get ready because a veteran big man is hitting the open market, and honestly, nobody should be surprised. Kevon Looney, after just one season with the New Orleans Pelicans, is officially an unrestricted free agent. NBA insider Chris Haynes dropped the news that the Pelicans are ditching his $8 million team option, and when you look at the numbers, you gotta wonder if this whole thing was doomed from the jump.

Buried on the Bench, Buried in the Stats

Looney, a dude who played ten seasons in Golden State before this, probably rolled into New Orleans expecting to make a real impact, right? A bigger role, more minutes, that kind of thing. But man, his first season there went sideways, fast. The dude was straight up buried on the bench, making only 21 appearances and getting just eight starts all year. Think about that for a second: a 30-year-old veteran, barely seeing the court. The numbers don't lie, either. He averaged a measly 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Oof. It's clear the Pelicans had other plans. They were all about their young guys at center, giving those crucial minutes to standout rookie Derik Queen and youngster Yves M

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issi. It makes sense for a team building for the future, but for Looney, it meant his expected "bigger role" never materialized. It was a tough break for him, for sure.

What's Next for the Ten-Year Vet?

So, with the Pelicans prioritizing their youth movement, it became a virtual guarantee Looney would be signing elsewhere this summer. This move was just the official rubber stamp on what everyone saw coming. He’s 30 now, and while his time in New Orleans didn't exactly scream "star," he's still a guy who can be a solid depth option for a lot of rosters out there. The big question now is, where does he land? After that kind of year, you know he's going to be hunting for a team that can offer him more than 21 games off the bench. He's still expecting to operate in a bigger role than he did this past season, and honestly, who can blame him? The league is full of teams needing a veteran presence and some hustle on the boards. This next chapter for Looney is going to be super interesting. Free agency is kicking off, and he's one of those vets looking for a fresh start and a team that actually needs what he brings to the table. Where he lands will tell us everything about how the league views his value after a season that, by all accounts, just didn't go to plan.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.