AUGUST 4: The Lakers have officially released McKinnie, the team confirmed today in a press release.
AUGUST 3: The Lakers will waive veteran forward Alfonzo McKinnie, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
McKinnie still had two more years left on his minimum-salary contract with the Lakers, but his salaries for the next two seasons were fully non-guaranteed. As such, the team won’t be on the hook for any dead money as a result of releasing McKinnie, who will get a chance to seek out a new opportunity.
McKinnie, who will turn 29 next month, averaged 3.1 PPG and 1.4 RPG on .516/.410/.556 shooting in 39 games (6.6 MPG) for the Lakers in 2020/21.
Although McKinnie had been on a minimum contract, his $1.91MM salary for 2021/22 would’ve been higher than the cap hit for a newly-signed one-year, minimum-salary contract. So the Lakers will likely replace McKinnie on the roster with a free agent and save a bit of money in the process. That’s not insignificant, since the club projects to be well over the tax line this season.
Should sign with Utah as a not as good replacement for Niang
I liked him as Ariza insurance
McKinnie reminds me of a poor mans Ariza , he probably could have been a good mentor
Basically saves 2 mill (taxed upon i think 40% ) so like 2.8 mill outta end tax for Genie , I still thought they’d keep him tho
Can’t complain considering- 2 spots left prolly need a defensive Sf for 1, preferably young(ish)
McKinnie and Nunn are like the same player. So replacing McKinnie with Nunn is a strange move.
No, I doubt you have watched McKinnie play at all
I have McKinnie is a 3pt shooter and rebound. Plays poor defense. Nunn is a shooter like McKinnie and plays poor defense. Nunn is a better scorer but McKinnie rebounds better so there is not much a plus either way.
And I doubt you’ve watched Nunn …
Rumblings of Myles Leonard coming to Lakers on a non guaranteed coming in right now , nothing official yet
Too young, throw him back.
Too bad, liked McKinnie’s hustle when he got the chance to play.
Damn, almost had 4 Chicago guys on the Lakers.
He played 593 minutes in CLE and I don’t recall him. Had his worst of four years. Pretty good otherwise, had good numbers last year, improving.
Didn’t have a clue he played for TOR haha, only 53 minutes mind you.