The NBA free agency period is fully underway, and as usual, the backroom phone calls and moving parts are moving fast. According to my league sources, three-time NBA Champion Kevon Looney and the Golden State Warriors are highly interested in a mutual reunion.
There is just one major holdup: the Warriors’ front office is currently at a complete standstill until they can figure out whether they can actually land LeBron James in free agency.
This transactional waiting game mirrors my reporting from last summer regarding veteran big man Al Horford and defensive ace Gary Payton II.
As I reported on ScoopB.com, that situation dragged out deep into the offseason while the team sorted out other roster logistics. Ultimately, it was Stephen Curry who personally approached the Warriors’ front office, making his voice heard loud and clear that he wanted “GP2” back in the Bay Area. The Warriors listened to their franchise cornerstone, brought Payton back, and secured a verbal commitment from Horford. A similar paradigm is unfolding now with Looney, as the franchise waits on the ultimate domino to fall.
The Looney Legacy & The New Orleans Chapter
Looney’s deep roots in Golden State are undeniable. Drafted by the Warriors in 2015, the 6’9″ big man evolved from a quiet rookie into one of head coach Steve Kerr’s most trusted locker room veterans, anchoring the frontcourt during multiple championship runs.
Reflecting on his growth during our interview on ScoopB.com, Looney detailed how he found his voice in the Bay:
“I think I’ve become a much better leader,” Looney told me. “I think I’m using my voice more and I think I can see the game better, you know? That’s the thing I feel that I’ve gotten a lot better at. My first couple years in the league I didn’t talk much, but as I become more of a veteran young guys start leaning on me more and I’m much better with my voice and my teammates can count on me more.”
Following his decorated tenure with the Warriors, Looney took his veteran leadership to the New Orleans Pelicans. Now, a return to the franchise where he spent a decade and won three rings is firmly on the table for both sides—once the ultimate prize of free agency is decided.
The LeBron James Sweepstakes Heat Up
The Warriors are frozen because the sweepstakes for the 41-year-old King are incredibly complex.
As broken down on ScoopB.com, oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag have established the Warriors as a heavy favorite to pair James with Curry. However, my sources have long pointed toward an emotional third homecoming with the Cleveland Cavaliers as the truest contender for his signature, provided the financial structure aligns.
Yet, the plot thickened significantly yesterday. The Athletic reported that the Philadelphia 76ers have officially reached out to LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, to gauge the King’s interest in heading to the City of Brotherly Love. This aggressive push follows a massive blockbuster trade yesterday in which the 76ers acquired All-Star forward Jaylen Brown.
The Sixers have a secret weapon in their front office. Philadelphia’s newly appointed President of Basketball Operations, Mike Gansey, shares deep ties with James.
As tracked on ScoopB.com, Gansey is a Northeast Ohio native who famously finished just behind LeBron for the 2001 Ohio Mr. Basketball award. Their paths crossed significantly during James’ second stint with the Cavaliers, where Gansey climbed the executive ranks in the front office, culminating in a 2016 NBA Championship victory together.
With a freshly minted superstar duo of Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown, alongside a president who knows exactly what it takes to build a championship roster around LeBron, the 76ers are looking to hijack the sweepstakes entirely.
Until LeBron makes his final decision, the rest of the NBA universe—including the anticipated reunion between Kevon Looney and the Golden State Warriors—remains completely on pause.
