Kevon Looney might be the most underrated player in NBA free agency. And now two Eastern Conference contenders are circling.
Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported recently that the Boston Celtics have Looney on their list of center targets this summer. That list also includes Robert Williams III, a familiar face in Boston. But the Celtics aren’t alone in the Looney sweepstakes. The New York Knicks are interested too.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown has a previous connection with Looney from their days together in Golden State. That relationship could give New York an edge if both teams make offers. Brown knows exactly what Looney brings to a locker room and to a defensive scheme.
Why the Knicks need frontcourt help
Mitchell Robinson’s time in New York feels like it’s winding down. According to multiple reports, James Dolan is reluctant to push the team into the second apron of the luxury tax. Robinson’s contract makes him a likely casualty of that financial caution. The Knicks have already shown they’re willing to be aggressive though. Winning a title tends to make you want to reload, not rebuild.
Boston has frontcourt issues of its own. The Celtics tried to solve them last season by trading for Nikola Vucevic from the Bulls. That move didn’t produce much in the playoffs. Vucevic struggled to stay on the floor in key moments, and Boston’s depth behind him was thin. Looney wouldn’t start in Boston, but he’d give them a reliable veteran who can rebound and defend without needing the ball.
The Celtics were elite on the offensive glass last year. Looney would make them even better there. He’s not flashy, but he’s smart. He sets hard screens, he knows where to be, and he’s got championship experience. That matters more in June than most fans want to admit.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints also reported that the Knicks view Looney as a potential fit. Looney played last season with the New Orleans Pelicans after leaving Golden State. He didn’t put up huge numbers, but the advanced stats liked his impact. Teams that pay attention to that stuff see his value.
A quiet free agent with loud suitors
NBA free agency opens June 30. Both the Celtics and Knicks will have decisions to make before then. Boston has bigger questions hanging over its roster too, with Jaylen Brown’s growing dissatisfaction becoming one of the worst-kept secrets in the league. Moving Brown would change everything about how Boston builds its roster. But even if he stays, the Celtics still need a reliable big man behind Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.
The Knicks just won a title and they’re not trying to take a step back. Looney won’t be the biggest name on the market, but he might be the most practical fit for two teams that both need exactly what he does.
Leave a Comment