Golden State will likely move on from Rooney.

The Athletic, a local U.S. media outlet, published a preview of the Golden State Warriors’ offseason on Monday (June 9). One of the most shocking pieces of news was about Kevon Looney. According to the report, the Warriors are expected to save $5 million by releasing Rooney and clear a roster spot.

Rooney joined Golden State with the 30th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. At the time, the Warriors were a dominant force in the NBA, and there weren’t many expectations for the rookie. 안전 토토사이트 Rooney didn’t make much of an impact in his first and second seasons and was a bench player.

In his third year, Rooney began to emerge as a bench player and found his place in Golden State. He filled a void on a team that didn’t boast a big-time outside shooter. His rebounding, hustle plays, and screens made him an important piece of Golden State’s system basketball despite his lack of a 3-point shot.

Even though he wasn’t a starting-caliber center who averaged double-digit points, he was more than adequate as a piece of the puzzle for Golden State. With Rooney’s presence, the Warriors didn’t really need to reinforce the center position. That alone was enough to make him valuable.

However, in the 2023-2024 season, Rooney”s struggles began. His rebounding ability diminished and his impact on defense disappeared. There was no reason to use him anymore.

To make matters worse, Rooney’s replacement had arrived. Rookie Tracy Jackson-Davis. Unlike Rooney, Jackson-Davis has great athleticism and can easily take passes from guards and convert them into points. Despite his weaknesses on defense, he played well on offense and showed promise.

Add to that the emergence of Draymond Green’s center role, which Golden State has used for years. Rooney’s minutes dwindled.

By the end of the season, he was out of the rotation altogether. From Golden State”s perspective, he was no longer needed.

The problem is Golden State’s situation. If the Warriors were a team with salary cap space, they might be able to keep him, but they’re paying a hefty luxury tax.

Rooney has $8 million left on his contract for the 2024-2025 season. However, only $3 million of that $8 million is guaranteed. Releasing Rooney would save the team $5 million. Golden State needs to save every penny. That”s why releasing Rooney makes sense.

It”s up to the Warriors to decide what to do with Rooney.