NBA News: Bulls Take Chance On Ex-Laker Making Waves In G League

The Chicago Bulls find themselves with a depleted lineup with some of their players out due to injuries and forced out due to the health and safety protocols tied to COVID-19.

Five players have been placed under the health and safety protocols, namely DeMar DeRozan, Matt Thomas, Coby White, Javone Green and Derrick Jones Jr.

Aside from that, Alex Caruso (hamstring) and Patrick Williams (wrist) are dealing with injuries.

Head coach Billy Donovan practically has his hands tied but the Bulls could get some help in the person of Alfonzo McKinnie. The 29-year-old was signed using the hardship exemption per Shams Charania of The Athletic with hopes that the former Los Angeles Lakers wing can help the Bulls buy the ones forced out some time.

McKinnie was playing in the G League for the Mexico City Capitanes before he was called up by the Bulls. He last played for the Lakers during the 2020-21 season.

Aside from Los Angeles, McKinnie also had stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors.

McKinnie was hardly a factor in his previous NBA tour of duty. However, the player who went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft was showing some splendid shooting in the G League.

With the Capitanes, the 6-foot-7 cager has been shooting the ball well from beyond the arc with a 43.3% shooting clip and has been averaging 24.1 points per game.

There is no doubt that McKinnie is a veteran who could help out the Bulls, particularly during this hard period. It could also be an opportunity for him to show he deserves another shot in the NBA after hardly making a mark in the past four seasons.

McKinnie owns career averages of 4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 165 games per Basketball-Reference. He can bring his G League stats to the Bulls and possibly break out and prove a point.