Golden State Warriors: How will the team manage the small forward position?

The Golden State Warriors waived Alfonzo McKinnie on Friday opening up a hole at small forward. How will the team manage the position going forward?

The Golden State Warriors‘ decision to waive Alfonzo McKinnie on Friday was met with sadness but ultimately not surprise. But despite the anticipated move, the Warriors seem to have opened up quite the hole in their starting lineup.

McKinnie was penciled in as the team’s starting small forward entering training camp. The 27-year-old had worked his way into the rotation last season and following the departure of Kevin Durant in the offseason, he was expected to take on a bigger role this season.

However, financial matters unfortunately led to his release leaving the Warriors without one of their projected starters. That leaves the question, what is Golden State’s plan for the small forward position?

While McKinnie wasn’t a true starting-caliber player, his loss will still remove some quality depth from the team’s rotation. In Friday night’s preseason victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, we got a glimpse of what the team’s plan might be.

Free-agent acquisition Glenn Robinson III received the start at small forward while veteran Alec Burks remained absent with an ankle injury. Robinson, the son of former first overall pick Glenn Robinson, spent last season with the Detroit Pistons.

He was originally drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2014. And since then, Robinson has bounced around the league also spending time with both the Philadelphia 76ers and perhaps most notably the Indiana Pacers.

The Warriors like Robinson’s offensive upside as the 25-year-old shot 39% from three-point range during his three seasons in Indiana, shooting a very efficient 41% during the 2017-18 season — his final year with the Pacers.

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However, that rate dropped to below 30% last season with Detroit in what was an ugly campaign for the second-generation star.

Still, the Warriors are clearly high on his upside and head coach Steve Kerr has already declared him the starter for opening night. When Burks returns, however, Golden State might opt to go with the more experienced, defensively-focused veteran.

For the time being, you could also expect the Warriors to use second-round rookie Eric Paschall at the three. Paschall is a well-rounded, smart player who doesn’t necessarily excel in any one area, but he doesn’t have a true weakness either.

The Villanova product has been likened to a young Draymond Green which is high praise for the 22-year-old rookie. Although he’s a natural power forward, Paschall has the positional flexibility to defend both the three and the four making him incredibly valuable in the Warriors rotation.

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Kerr even insinuated that the Warriors could opt to try Green at small forward if it comes to that. The former Defensive Player of the Year is obviously talented enough to pull it off, the only question would come with the ripple effects of such a move.

With the depleted state of the Warriors big men, Green may be forced to remain at the four until players like Kevon Looney and Willie Cauley-Stein get healthy. But once that happens, Kerr should have plenty of matchups to play around with.

Of course, the plan is for Klay Thompson to assume the primary small forward role once he returns from his torn ACL later in the season. Following the acquisition of D’Angelo Russell in the offseason, we should see Thompson step out of his comfort zone and play at the three.

But like Green, Thompson has more than enough defensive prowess to make it work.

The departure of McKinnie certainly shakes things up, but the Warriors have enough positional flexibility to get by while Thompson recovers. And in today’s NBA, true positions matter less and less regardless.

Look for players like Robinson, Burks, and Paschall to jump at the opportunity to receive some serious minutes early in the season.