Cavs: One key goal for Cedi Osman, Alfonzo McKinnie for 2020-21

McKinnie’s key 2020-21 goal for Cleveland Cavaliers: Averaging 1.6 steals per-36 minutes

It was really good to see McKinnie, who has been signed to two 10-day contracts throughout 2019-20 by the Cavs, be signed to a team-friendly deal by Cleveland in February. Even with upcoming years being non-guaranteed, I’d expect McKinnie to have a very realistic chance of sticking around.

McKinnie did miss an eight-game span post-All-Star break due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot and for some reason earlier on in the season, he was not getting rotational minutes.

In the 40 games McKinnie was active, however, he typically proved to be a solid reserve forward, particularly on the defensive end, proving to do a commendable job in minutes matched up against 3’s and 4’s mostly.

McKinnie, even while being an instinctive cutter/lob threat and impressive finisher at the rim, is not a player you expect to have big scoring spurts.

With the Cavs this season, he had 4.6 points per game in 14.8 minutes, and shot only 21.5 percent from three-point range, and has a career deep shooting hit rate of 30.5 percent, most of which was with the Golden State Warriors. Even with his on-ball contributions offensively being usually limited, the key goal for McKinnie for next season for me would again show he’s having a team defensive impact.

McKinnie has proven to be typically in the right spots as a rotator on the interior and to shooters for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and that’s how he could again help out pieces such as Garland and/or Sexton, Porter/Osman and Dante Exum.

Dylan Windler, who has not played yet with Cleveland due to complications involving a stress reaction in his left leg, should contribute at the 2/3 spots next season, and I could see McKinnie help him defensively in some instances as well. Helping communicate through matchups off-ball and tagging rollers comes to mind regarding that.

Additionally, with his active hands as a stunter in passing lanes and proving to time up plays on the weak side, my key 2020-21 goal for McKinnie is having 1.6 steals per-36 minutes.

In 2019-20, which is safe to say is done for the Cavs, McKinnie has put up 1.4 steals per-36 minutes, per Basketball Reference.

Considering that, and with him seemingly becoming more comfortable in his role with the Cavaliers as a defensive forward/wing piece next season, I could very well see this goal being attainable for McKinnie.

It would also further prove his worth as a quality rotational forward option for Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and company.

If McKinnie plays similarly defensively next season in relation to being an impact defender/rotator as he did this year, I could again definitely see him meeting this key goal I have for him.

That’d also indicate the Cavs would be able to get out and run in transition when he’s in there, where McKinnie shines as a finisher.