© Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
OAKLAND – The Warriors are about to play their fifth game of the season and there is still no sign of Patrick McCaw. Not a peep, not a Tweet, not any sign of life coming from McCaw or his camp. Since the third-year guard turned down the Warriors’ one-year, $1.71 million qualifying offer, and appears to have also declined the team’s two-year offer ($5.74 million) with a non-guaranteed second year team option, nothing has changed. He remains a restricted free agent.
According to Marcus Thompson, McCaw has “gone dark” and cannot be reached by his Warriors teammates, some of whom expressed concern about him and his situation. One Warriors player quoted in Thompson’s story said of McCaw’s holdout, “You can’t do this after two years. You’ve got to get the clout first. He doesn’t have the leverage.”
One Warriors player quoted in Thompson’s story said the situation raised questions.
“There has to be something else going on,” he said. “Has to be. I hope he’s all right.”
It’s been a surprising situation that has confused many within the Warriors organization and the media. McCaw’s stats last season were pedestrian at best with 4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Per 36 minutes, those numbers only improve to 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Granted, McCaw is maybe the 10th man on one of the most – if not the most – stacked teams in the league. He plays defense well and provides a valuable presence on the wing.
Still, his value does not appear to be as high as he thinks it is. In his absence, Alfonzo McKinnie, who picked up the Warriors 14th roster spot at the end of the preseason, and who played in 14 games for the Toronto Raptors last season, has slotted into McCaw’s role well. He’s been a Mc-replacement on the wing, if you will.
In Monday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, McKinnie entered the game with boundless energy, immediately snatching an offensive board from three Suns defenders, including the 7’1″ Tyson Chandler. He finished with career highs in both points (10) and rebounds (7) in less than 18 minutes. For the year, he’s basically mirrored McCaw’s stats and impact so far, with 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while playing decent defense on the wing.
Before tonight’s game against the Washington Wizards, head coach Steve Kerr said he’s been comfortable with his back court rotation without McCaw and that McKinnie has impressed him. Still, Kerr refused to shut down a potential McCaw return.
“I really liked what I saw from Alfonzo,” Kerr said. “I’m happy with everybody’s effort, but the door is definitely still open for Pat.”