The Warriors are keeping Kevon Looney around — at least for now.

Golden State guaranteed Looney’s contract in full for the 2024-25 season, according to multiple reports. Looney had $3 million of his $8 million contract guaranteed, but the Warriors reportedly agreed to pay him the full $8 million.

Looney, a staple of the Warriors dynasty, is entering his 10th season with the club. The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the most important locker room leaders, a player whom head coach Steve Kerr has tabbed the “moral compass” of the team.

But it’s a relatively steep price to pay for someone who fell out of the rotation for large stretches of last season. Looney started 80 of 82 and then 70 of 82 games in the previous two years before the 2023-24 campaign, coalescing next to Draymond Green in the front court and starring in his dirty-work role. But he was much less effective this past season, with substantial reductions in his points, rebounds, and blocks per game as well as field goal percentage.

Looney, slower and less productive, lost his active games played streak at 290 and ceded playing time to rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis, a more dynamic option at center.

During Looney’s iron man streak, he helped the Warriors win the 2022 title, dominating the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks on the glass during the playoff run. A year later, he averaged 15.1 rebounds per game in the Warriors’ first-round series win over Sacramento.

Looney’s salary goes on Golden State’s books as its offseason is set to ramp up. They still need to make a decision on Chris Paul — either to find a trade to use him in or release him — and Klay Thompson, a free agent.

The Warriors’ calculus on Looney came down to a few options. They could guarantee his contract for $8 million and avoid drama. They could pay him the $3 million they owe him no matter what and let him walk in free agency. Or they could try to renegotiate after that $3 million figure, potentially keeping him for the minimum on top of that and saving a negligible amount of cap space.

Atkinson to Cavs >> Kenny Atkinson is about to become an NBA head coach again.

The Warriors’ top assistant coach under Steve Kerr will be hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday morning.

Atkinson joined the Warriors’ staff in 2021 and became the lead assistant after Mike Brown’s departure to coach the Sacramento Kings following Golden State’s championship run in 2022.

The 57-year-old Atkinson nearly left Golden State after the championship to lead the Charlotte Hornets, but ultimately returned to the Warriors for two more seasons.

The Cavaliers are coming off two consecutive playoff seasons — their first since LeBron James’ departure in 2018 — but fired coach J.B. Bickerstaff after a second-round exit as they seek to elevate to the next level of contention. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell has a player option for the 2025-26 season that could loom large over this summer.

Atkinson was the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020, helping lift the team from 20 wins in his first year to a 42-40 record and a playoff berth in 2019. That upward trajectory helped lure Kevin Durant from the Warriors along with Kyrie Irving from the Celtics that offseason.

Increased pressure from those free-agency signings led to Atkinson stepping down the following March. He spent the following season as a Clippers assistant before joining Golden State.

He coached current Cavaliers Jarett Allen and Caris LeVert during that time in Brooklyn.

Atkinson was also linked to the Lakers’ job this offseason, as well as the Bucks’ midseason opening.

The Warriors will have to make multiple changes to their staff this offseason after Atkinson’s departure and the unexpected death of Dejan Milojevic in January. Kerr will be plenty busy with USA Basketball this summer as the head coach of the Americans at the Paris Olympics.