Cavs: With even tougher times ahead, Alfonzo McKinnie should stick

If it were up to me, the Cleveland Cavaliers keeping Alfonzo McKinnie through the end of the 2019-20 season would be a no-brainer.

At this point, I’m really not sure what Alfonzo McKinnie has to do to get a rest-of-season contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

McKinnie, who was reportedly waived by Cleveland earlier this month before his contract would become guaranteed on January 7, cleared waivers, and was signed back on a 10-day deal, just like Tyler Cook, is again like Cook, on his second 10-day deal with the Cavs.

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McKinnie reportedly started his second 10-day deal with the Cavaliers during Cleveland’s loss Thursday to the Washington Wizards, and as is always the case, was active in his minutes on the floor.

To recap a bit for reference, McKinnie has put up only 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 rebounds per game in 2019-20, as noted by NBA.com. McKinnie has gotten more consistent run in January, though, and he’s done just about as well as the Wine and Gold could’ve expected.

In January, McKinnie has had a solid 6.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 21.7 minutes per game in nine contests, again, as indicated by NBA.com.

Although the Cavs have had some awful performances lately, just like in Thursday’s game against the Wiz, who were coming off an overtime game at the Miami Heat and were playing the second game of a back-to-back, and Cleveland has lost six straight, McKinnie has been a bright spot.

He’s not a floor spacer, but McKinnie has played well off pieces such as Matthew Dellavedova, Darius Garland and Larry Nance Jr., along with John Henson in minutes often with several reserves.

McKinnie has done great work as a cutter in both settled offense and in transition, and that type of thing sets the right example for Cleveland’s young pieces such as Collin Sexton, Garland and others, including Kevin Porter Jr., who is still sidelined for a while with a reported left knee sprain.

Anyway, McKinnie, again while not a floor spacer, will hit the occasional runner in the lane and he’s a very effective finisher.

In 115 career games coming into Thursday with the Toronto Raptors, Cavs and mostly the Golden State Warriors, the 27-year-old has converted on a robust 68.2% of his attempts 0-3 feet out, according to Basketball Reference, so essentially at or right near the rim. He’s a very capable straight-line driver, and can finish over his defenders when needed often.

He showcased that and his cutting ability throughout the Cavs’ tight loss to the Memphis Grizzlies during the team’s previous road trip, and had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

With the Cavaliers’ issues finishing near the rim when it comes to wings and/or perimeter players such as Garland, and McKinnie, for the record has also done a commendable job when playing up at the 4, his converting at the rim on most occasions has been a nice spark.

Along with his activity offensively it’s abundantly clear that McKinnie is one of Cleveland’s best defenders.

With the expiring Tristan Thompson feasibly a prime candidate to be moved near the NBA’s February 6 trade deadline, the Cavs will need a defender with the awareness of McKinnie even more so.

McKinnie is not a lockdown guy, but he’s done a better job than most Cavaliers when it comes to walling off opposing slashers, has rotated well off the ball, provided regular help when it’s been needed on to bigs and has really chipped in on the glass. A 14.2% defensive rebounding rate, as shown by NBA.com, demonstrates that.

Moreover, McKinnie’s energy, grit and seemingly exemplary attitude make him a player that should be with the Cavaliers through the rest of this season.

I’m not going to totally hate on the Cook situation, but if the Cavs aren’t going to play him really at all in meaningful minutes after his other 10-day expires anyhow, why not sign McKinnie through the end of this season instead, then?

I get that the Cleveland Cavaliers could potentially make a few trades in coming weeks, given that Kevin Love seemingly has two feet out the door and reportedly prefers to be traded, per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, even if Love hasn’t broadcasted that in postgames or formally requested a trade. Love said yes when asked if he’d still be “happy” to be a Cav if it came to it post-deadline (per Basketball Insiders’ Spencer Davies) anyhow, but the writing seems to be on the wall.

Love being due to make $91.5 million over the next three years following 2019-20 and with him having a well-documented injury history, along with what’s transpired this season, won’t make dealing him a simple task, however, as Fedor also hit on.

Thompson and Henson are likely attractive expiring trade targets for contenders as seamless veteran rollers, good team defenders and terrific veterans from a locker room standpoint, though.

Regardless, if Cook’s not signed again through the end of the year, a roster spot could seemingly be open for McKinnie.

Additionally, McKinnie is a player that is of the highest character and his teammates and the coaching staff love what he brings as a teammate, as Forbes’ Evan Dammarell detailed recently after interviewing the reserve wing.

Anyhow, because things are likely to get even tougher for Cleveland head coach John Beilein and the squad with pieces such as Love, Thompson and/or Henson quite possibly on the move, keeping McKinnie around at least through the end of this season is a no-brainer.

Well, I’d hope that’s the thought process for general manager Koby Altman and company.

I mean really, what else can a 10-day guy do in this situation?

McKinnie is the type of unselfish and gritty contributor that helps build a winning culture. He’s far from the most talented player, and I get that, but he’s going to get the most out of himself when he gets chances to play meaningful minutes.

Frankly, he better receive a rest-of-season deal from the Wine and Gold after his second 10-day expires and the deadline passes. I’m completely on-board with you on that, Evan, and we’ll see after the year.

Come on, Cavs.