Adding players with championship experience can be a huge boon for the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason. Turns out, that’s possible if they go for center Kevon Looney from the Golden State Warriors in an interesting trade idea to consider.
Looney first entered the NBA as the Golden State Warriors 30th pick in the 2015 Draft. Unfortunately, a hip injury limited his first year in the league and prevented him from playing with the team. Once he recovered, the former UCLA big man got his feet wet by playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors, the team’s affiliate in the D League back then.
It would take until the 2017-18 season for Looney to full become healthy. By then, the Warriors won their second consecutive ring with a core of All-Star forward Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. However, their attempt to achieve a three-peat failed in 2019 when they lost to the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals.
After several years of languishing at the bottom, Stephen Curry and the Warriors were able to win the big one once again when they defeated the Boston Celtics in 2022. At that point, Looney has cemented himself as the team’s starting big man with career averages of 5.0 points on 58 percent shooting from the field, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game for Golden State.
Milwaukee Bucks Get Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney in Intriguing Trade Idea
Like Looney, Milwaukee Bucks big man Bobby Portis time playing under head coach Doc Rivers and All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo may come to an end soon. Rather than see him walk away for nothing after the upcoming season since he can opt out of the final year of his contract., the front office may consider this trade proposal by Jackson Gross for Brew Hoop.
“Despite the offensive punch that Portis can bring on a nightly basis, his habit of tapping balls out to the perimeter instead of securing the rebound on both ends of the floor was headache-inducing to watch.
The Bucks make a three-team deal with the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets to get Kevon Looney for defense and his willpower to not turn into former Marquette volleyball All-American Allie Barber when it comes to rebounding. Looney is a strong rebounder and will provide much-needed defensive effort off the Bucks’ bench,” Gross wrote.
Getting Looney will give the Bucks a reliable screener, an able rim protector, and a willing rebounder on both ends of the court. The downside here, though, is that Portis can shoot better from outside with his 38 percent accuracy from downtown.
It remains to be seen whether this trade has some foundation or the Bucks’ front office can consider it. In any case, both big men will attract attention in the coming months.
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