Denver Nuggets: Should the Nuggets pursue Kevon Looney?
The Denver Nuggets should consider pursuing Kevon Looney this offseason.
The Denver Nuggets struggled defensively in the regular season and playoffs.
Critical to the Nuggets, improving their chances of winning a championship is improving defensively and getting more production from their bench.
One player, the Nuggets could add to their bench this offseason to improve defensively is Kevon Looney of the Golden State Warriors.
Looney has been a backup center and power forward for the Dubs for the past two seasons.
If there is one thing that watching the Warriors has taught us, it’s that the Warriors are an excellent defensive team. Looney has been key to helping the Warriors succeed defensively.
He could fit seamlessly into a bench role for the Nuggets as a backup power forward or center. He would add strength to the Nuggets’ bench. On the Nuggets, Looney could add toughness and energy into the Nuggets’ roster. This is something the Nuggets desperately need from its role players.
Looney is one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA. In the 2018-19 regular season, despite only playing 18.5 MPG, he was ranked18th in the NBA in total offensive rebounds and grabbed 194 offensive rebounds for the season.
In the playoffs, so far, Looney has grabbed 34 offensive rebounds and is the 6th leading offensive rebounder.
Offensive rebounding has been an area the Nuggets excel in and Looney would only improve it.
His consistency for the Warriors in the postseason is undeniable.
This postseason, Looney is averaging 7.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, .800 FT%, and .725 FG% on less than 21 minutes of playing time per game.
In the Western Conference Finals, Looney averaged 10.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 77.8 FG%. His defense against Enes Kanter was critical to the Warriors sweeping the Trail Blazers. Kevon Looney had a PER of 23.8 during the conference finals.
The twenty-two three old has played in 37 playoff games and two NBA finals. This veteran experience would be invaluable to the Nuggets as they try to make a deep playoff run next season. And adding Looney to the Nuggets’ bench further weakens the Warriors.
Signing Looney would likely not be too expensive for the Nuggets. He is only 23 and could play well for the Nuggets for the next decade. Looney earned $1,567,007 with the Warriors for the 2018-19 season. The Nuggets with a semi-lucrative longterm contract could lure him away from the Warriors.
The Nuggets need more consistency from their bench in the postseason and Kevon Looney maybe just the player that could provide that for the Nuggets.