Kevon Looney Reportedly Expected to Enter NBA Free Agency as Pelicans Decline Contract Option

Kevon Looney's first season with the New Orleans Pelicans didn't exactly go to plan, and he unsurprisingly is heading elsewhere.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Pelicans are expected to decline Looney's $8 million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Looney, 30, was largely buried on the bench this season for the Pelicans, appearing in just 21 games with eight starts. He averaged just 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, with the Pelicans understandably preferring standout rookie Derik Queen and youngster Yves Missi at center.

After 10 seasons in Golden State, Looney likely was expecting to operate in a bigger role for the Pelicans, but the team prioritized giving those minutes to younger players. That made sense, but it also made it a virtual guarantee Looney would sign elsewhere this summer.

With Looney now set for free agency, he can be a solid depth option for any roster, and certainly he'll be expecting to operate in a bigger role than he did for the Pelicans last season.