The Golden State Warriors announced that rookie Kevon Looney has undergone hip surgery and now the guard will be out for at least four months and will miss the start of the season and this comes as the Warriors hope to sign Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli to contract extensions. Warriors star Stephen Curry has been making the media rounds of late and he said that Golden State is working to win multiple champions after taking the title last season.
Looney suffered a torn labrum injury and he had surgery that was "successful" at the Steadman Clinic byt "orthopedic surgeon and hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon," according to the team release. Pro Basketball Talk writes that Looney was once considered a potential lottery pick, but that he had "red flags" because of hip issues. Clearly that has played out, but for a championship team, Looney is a good investment and they could have a productive player in the future once he returns.
The Warriors are also reportedly interested in contract extensions with Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli, according to CSN Bay Area. The players are eligible for deals and Barnes is one to watch, as he expressed interest n signing a contract extension earlier in the season. General manager Bob Myers said that the team is interested in keeping both players and they are both "key parts" to the Warriors continuing to win titles. The two players will be restricted free agents like Draymond Green was if deals are not done by the extension deadline.
The release says that Looney will start rehab work "immediately" and that he will be out for at least four months and could miss up to six months. The Warriors did not "need" Looney this season and picking him at 30th in the first round meant that he would be competing for end of the rotation minutes anyway. Looney likely would not have played much, as the team has Draymond Green, Marreese Speights, James Michael McAdoo, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala at the forward positions.
Looney played well during the Summer League and he has the potential to be a contributing player for the Warriors down the line. Looney could end up returning for part of the season and by that point he will have to make up a lot of ground. Looney was solid in the summer league, playing in six games and averaging nine points with seven rebounds and one block per contest. Looney averaged 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds for UCLA in his one season with the Bruins.
Curry has been all over the place this summer, including playing golf with President Obama and he recently was at an event held by NBC Sports and was asked about future goals for the team. Curry said that the team is built with young players that are "hungry" and that the "mission" for the Warriors is to win "multiple" titles.