Warriors predicted to reunite Stephen Curry with $16 million three-time NBA champion via buyout

Even with the Golden State Warriors signing ex-Los Angeles Lakers guard Nate Williams on Tuesday, the seven-time NBA champions still have room to add one more contributor to help give them a boost moving forward. 

Blue Man Hoop’s Josh Cornelissen didn’t waste much time giving the Warriors the perfect buyout target, citing that Golden State should consider a reunion with a three-time NBA champion.

“The Warriors are an obvious choice,” Cornelissen wrote Wednesday. “He has deep familiarity with their system, they have a pair of aging bigs who need injury management in Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, and he won't complain about a lack of playing time -- he never did even when he deserved it.”

“Everyone would love for such a reunion to take place -- but it cannot until the Pelicans waive Looney. To this point, however, they have given no indication that they will do that. And so the waiting game commences.”

“The Warriors would love to bring back Looney. Looney would probably love to return to the Warriors. But they need the New Orleans front office to play ball.”

Looney is an underrated buyout target for the Dubs. While the UCLA product isn’t elite in any particular category, his proven success in Steve Kerr’s system in Golden State and positive reputation as a must-have glue guy make him an asset worth signing. 

As Cornelissen noted, though, Looney is still with the Pelicans, making it impossible for the Warriors to add him via buyout. In an ideal world, New Orleans would waive Looney before the start of March and give the Warriors a chance to pounce on him before another franchise secures his services. 

It’ll be interesting to see if Looney becomes available this season.

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