Pelicans decline team option on three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney, making him a free agent

New Orleans has declined a team option on Kevon Looney, according to Yahoo Sports, setting up the three-time NBA champion’s next step as a free agent. For Looney, the decision ends an option year and forces a search for a new contract and role heading into next season.

The reported outcome is a clear report for the Pelicans’ roster planning. Declining an option does not automatically remove a team’s interest in a player, but it does reduce short-term certainty and pushes the organization to re-evaluate how it wants to build minutes and depth across the frontcourt.

Looney is widely associated with Golden State’s recent championship run, and Yahoo Sports frames him as a “forever Golden State Warrior.” That matters because the Pelicans can no longer count on him as a plug-in veteran presence tied to playoff experience if a new agreement is not reached elsewhere.

As an option decline becomes final business, the practical question becomes what the Pelicans will prioritize with the open roster flexibility. Veteran bigs who can protect the paint, anchor spacing decisions, and steady rotation lineups are typically in demand, especially for teams aiming to balance regular-season workload with postseason intensity.

For Looney, free agency creates an opportunity to find a fit that matches his usage and team context. He is coming off the kind of resume that often draws interest from contenders, but his next home will likely hinge on whether a team’s depth chart and coaching style align with how he can best contribute.

The Pelicans’ decision also affects the broader offseason rhythm in the NBA. When a known playoff veteran moves into free agency, it can change the way teams compare their remaining frontcourt targets, including whether they pursue another internal fit, add a younger development piece, or bring in a different skill profile to complement their core.

What to watch next is whether New Orleans revisits a relationship with Looney through a new contract after the option decline, or whether another organization secures him first. Either way, the move is a substantive personnel marker for a Pelicans team that will need to confirm its frontcourt identity before the offseason runs its course.