Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Kevon Looney (UCLA) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number thirty overall pick to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The intensity was scarce, the room was half-filled and the mood was almost festive.
The NBA draft at Warriors headquarters was once considered the most important day of the season. The organization, team and fans would look at the draft as what they played all season for, a chance to improve the team with young talent and a potential rise to prominence from the depths of ineptitude.
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The Golden State Warriors had the last pick in the first round, which felt like a bonus given their recent successes. These successes include the reigning Executive of the Year, two All-Stars, a 67-win season, Most Valuable Player and most importantly, their first championship since 1975.
Just nine days removed from their championship parade in Oakland – which reportedly drew 1.1 million people – the Warriors were once working to improve. While refining a team coming off such a historic season seems superfluous, it’s not impossible. With the 30th pick in the NBA draft the Warriors selected Kevon Looney from UCLA, and being a former Bruin himself, Bob Myers was thrilled.
“Obviously, he went to UCLA, so that’s the No. 1 factor,” Myers joked following the selection. “We like the fact that he’s a skilled big.”
Mar 19, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Looney averaged 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds in his first and only season with the Bruins. Despite leading his team to the Sweet Sixteen, Looney fell in the draft due to a hip injury that may require surgery as well as a degenerative back, according to Draft Express.
Looney is a risk, but at 19-years old and with the 30th pick, Bob Myers doesn’t mind. “If he needs to take some time to recover from anything that might be there, or not, then he will.” Injury or not, Myers made it known that given the team’s depth across the board, Looney won’t be asked to contribute immediately.
Listed at 6-foot-9, 220 pounds with a 7′ 3.5 wingspan, Looney is a combo forward with athleticism and a high motor. He’s efficient in an area that the Warriors struggled in last season: offensive rebounding. The Warriors were 21st in the league in offensive rebounding, and if Looney remains healthy he’ll surely help in that department.
He averaged 9.2 rebounds in 30.9 minutes last season on 47 percent shooting. Despite the high shooting percentage, he isn’t known as a viable shooter — 24 percent on 2-point jumpers last season — as he benefitted immensely from points in the paint. Looney also led all freshmen in the nation with 15 double-doubles and was second among freshmen in rebounding.
Myers labeled Looney as a “skilled big,” which conveniently was the tag normally used to describe David Lee. The two sides are reportedly working on moving the two-time All-Star, which would free up one forward spot for the former Bruin. Forward Marreese Speights also has a team option for $3.8 million next season, which the team has yet to announce.
“This selection shouldn’t be listed as a precursor to any moves,” said Myers. “We took the best player on the board.” While this may be true, the impending departure of Lee and the status of Speights still very much in the air, the Warriors are clearly preparing for change in the front-court.
At 19, Looney won’t be asked to contribute for the defending champions instantly, but that’s the luxury of having the final pick in the first round. With the best roster in the league, the Warriors could afford the gamble. No draft pick is a sure bet, and that’s especially true for the injury-riddled forward from UCLA.
But, the depth is impossible to ignore, and even if the pick doesn’t pan out the Warriors will be just fine. This pick was one that could potentially fill an area of need for the team without costing them any immediate assets. It’s a win-win situation for the Warriors, who somehow, possible, just maybe have improved their team from last season.
Quite the different feel than previous seasons.