Warriors Make Roster Move to Create Spot for Marquese Chriss
By Michael Luciano
The high-flying athleticism of Marquese Chriss has impressed the Golden State Warriors, a team in desperate need of some frontcourt depth, to the point where they waived a solid contributor on last year's team to bring him in.
The Warriors released wing Alfonzo McKinnie to make room for Chriss, a former first-round pick.
Sources: The Golden State Warriors are waiving forward Alfonzo McKinnie, clearing way for Marquese Chriss to make regular-season roster. McKinnie will be one of the top available players on market.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 18, 2019
McKinnie, an undrafted free agent out of Green Bay who had to pay his dues in the G-League for years, averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game on a Warriors team that won the Western Conference for the fifth year in a row.
Chriss, meanwhile, has been nothing but an abject bust since being drafted eighth overall out of Washington in 2016. After two below-average seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Chriss split time between the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers last season, averaging 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12 minutes per game with both sides.
Marquese Chriss TOOK FLIGHT ?
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) October 17, 2019
(via @Warriors)pic.twitter.com/UFJsBohevG
Even though many consider him a bust, everyone acknowledges that he can still attack the rim and use his superior athleticism. If anyone can unlock Chriss' potential, it's Steve Kerr.