12 Comments

On the redrafts, Looney is on average considered the 15th pick.

The Warriors basically straight up traded the Hawks a 30th pick for a 15th pick. Would be a seriously fleecing of Schlenk.

Grade: A

Expand full comment

Call me skeptical that Looney is 100% or even close to it. The surgery may have fixed his muscle issue, but it is highly unlikely it did anything for his neuropathy and that was the major issue keeping him off the floor last season. I hope that I am wrong because he seems like a good guy who works hard, but there is only so much you can do if your spinal cord doesn't cooperate.

Expand full comment

For me, the big miss in the 2015 was Montrezl Harrell. IIRC, Looney was listed as a SF, never as a C. The Warriors have a history of poor big man picks going back to Joe Barry. They figured out the big man problem by getting them cheaply in FA, mostly.

They also whiffed on Josh Richardson in the draft mainly because they were looking for a big man, not a guard. Sometimes that can work, but not in Looney's case. It has been an upward struggle and the rationalizations for keeping him puzzle me. I guess hope wins against reality, sometimes.

I hope Looney is 100% because his trade value will help them. I don't see him as the future. Undersized, slow, injury prone, and cannot play a full game on the court.

Expand full comment

Really hoping Looney heals up. I always thought he was integral to our team's rotation our last 2 finals runs. Was so happy to sign him back for 3 years only to see him struggle through his injury. You never know what would've happened if we signed somebody else that draft, but judging from his contribution, definitely believe we drafted well.

Expand full comment

It all depends on if Looney is healthy next year. If so, getting a rotational big that late is a home run selection. If not, they knew he was injury-prone when they drafted him, and shouldn’t be surprised if he can’t stay healthy.

Expand full comment

It's easy say JR is a miss today but I agree with you. At the time, we were reloading at Center and everyone else also missed on JR. Though it feels like today we're still reloading at Center.

Expand full comment

Is that Looney's second core surgery? Bad sign.

Expand full comment