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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Summary
Despite having some early-career success with the Warriors in '18-'19, McKinnie has been unable to replicate that in recent years, even this season when the Lakers were straddled with injuries at the forward position. McKinnie's best skill is his offensive rebounding, but even that has declined over the years, with his offensive rebound rate going from 8% in '18-'19 down to 4.5% this season, according to Cleaning the Glass. He's not a threat from outside, and generally hasn't developed enough of an offensive game in any area to be a real threat. I expect McKinnie to be waived prior to next season, and I would be surprised if he even gets a fully-guaranteed contract this summer.
Cap Considerations
McKinnie's $1.9 million salary for 2021-2022 is non-guaranteed, and if he is waived he will become an unrestricted free agent and the Lakers will have no form of Bird rights on him. The Lakers will remain over the cap even if they waive McKinnie and renounce all their free agents, so they won't get much of a benefit by waiving him, other than freeing up a roster spot.
If he is waived, teams could claim him off waivers, but would need to fit his salary within cap space or an exception to do so, as his contract doesn't fit within the minimum salary exception as it was a three-year contract in order to facilitate the sign-and-trade for JaVale McGee.
If McKinnie becomes a free agent, other teams will have multiple ways to sign him as even teams without cap space could possibly use either of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or possibly even the Room MLE to sign him. It's likely that McKinnie ends up settling for the minimum.
Potential Teams: Jazz, Grizzlies, Heat, Pelicans, Timberwolves
Predicted Contract: 1-year, $1.9 million (non-guaranteed) with the Jazz
Last updated: 7/13/2021
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