The core rotation spots in Golden State are locked down — continuity can be added to the long list of Warriors’ strengths heading into next season.
However, there are roster spots potentially available. There are 12 fully guaranteed contracts on the Warriors’ books right now, and three partially guaranteed ones (Danuel House, Kendrick Nunn, and Marcus Derrickson). Now you can add Alfonzo McKinnie to the list, reports Anthony Slater of the Athletic.
Source: Warriors bringing in Alfonzo McKinnie on a deal to compete in camp. He’s a 6-8 wing. Made NBA debut with Raptors last season.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 5, 2018
He’s a longshot to make the roster, but he’s got a foot in the door at least.
McKinnie spent most of last season in the G-League, although the Raptors called him up for stretches and he got in for 53 minutes of NBA action. Undrafted out of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, McKinnie has good size and plenty of athleticism for an NBA wing. More importantly, and likely what got Golden State’s attention, is he has a reputation for playing hard, going all out on both ends of the court. He brings plenty of grit.
The goal is for him to become a “3&D” wing, and last season with the 905 of the G-League he took 4.4 fours per game and hit 34.8 percent of them. That said he is still a raw player, particularly on offense and it showed in Las Vegas — he played almost 24 minutes a game for Toronto and shot 26 percent.
If he is going to stick anywhere in the NBA he’s going to have to show more maturity to his game. He’ll get a chance to prove that to Steve Kerr and the Warriors.
