Kevon Looney's reported move to the New Orleans Pelicans has yet to be officially announced, creating intrigue among Warriors fans. Sunday marked the day NBA teams could officially confirm previously agreed trades and free agent signings, but Looney's situation remains curiously unresolved nearly a week after reports of his deal.
While the Pelicans promptly announced acquiring Jordan Poole and other teams across the league confirmed their moves—including the Golden State Warriors finalizing their part in the seven-team trade sending Kevin Durant to Houston—Looney's two-year, $16 million contract remains in limbo.
"Why would the Pelicans announce the Poole trade but not Looney's signing on the same day?" This question has sparked speculation across social media platforms about potential behind-the-scenes negotiations.
It's worth noting that Looney's current reported contract structure with New Orleans can't be included in a sign-and-trade arrangement. Such deals require a three-year guaranteed contract—similar to what Klay Thompson received last offseason, enabling the six-team trade that brought Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield to Golden State.
Could the Warriors be angling for Looney to receive a three-year contract to facilitate a possible sign-and-trade? While unlikely, it's not entirely impossible.
Interestingly, the Pelicans have been linked to restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Including Looney in a potential sign-and-trade involving Kuminga would allow Golden State to take back more salary than the 50% limitation imposed by base-year compensation rules.
In fact, any Looney sign-and-trade scenario would almost certainly need to include Kuminga. If the Warriors proceeded with a Looney sign-and-trade before resolving Kuminga's situation, they'd hard-cap themselves at the first apron, severely limiting their ability to match significant offers for the former seventh overall pick.
While a sign-and-trade shouldn't necessarily be expected, the delay remains peculiar given how quickly other transactions were announced. What's preventing the Pelicans from making Looney's signing official? We might soon find out.
