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Charlotte Hornets: Which players are on the outside looking in before the 2018-19 Season?

By Ben

CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 8: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #14 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball against Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers on April 8, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 8: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #14 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball against Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers on April 8, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With the players that the Charlotte Hornets added this summer, some veteran players will be left out of the rotation.

Every year, players deserving of minutes find themselves watching from the bench for all 48 minutes of a game. Which Charlotte Hornets‘ players will be in that position at the beginning of the regular season?

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Every team needs a Michael Kidd-Gilchrist; someone who is pure defense, hustle, and effort. With that said, most teams (including the Hornets) don’t need a player like Kidd-Gilchrist playing major minutes, especially when the team has playoff hopes. I’m not saying MKG should ride the bench, but he should expect a significant decrease in his minutes as new head coach James Borrego has made it clear that he values offense and three-point shooting, two areas where Kidd-Gilchrist struggles.

MKG is one of the true good guys in the NBA and we all want to see him succeed. It’s worth wondering if the former number two overall pick would be better off in a different situation. In Charlotte, I would expect Borrego to prioritize finding minutes for the likes of Nic Batum, Miles Bridges, Jeremy Lamb, and Malik Monk at the wing positions.

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If Charlotte was able to find a trade for Kidd-Gilchrist that would one, bring back an established role player, or two, act as a salary dump for MKG’s $13 million per year contract. A trade would be beneficial for both parties because it clears up a logjam at the wing position for Charlotte, and it would give Kidd-Gilchrist a much needed fresh start elsewhere.

Dwayne Bacon

This one hurts to put because Bacon showed so much promise last season and nearly every Hornets fan (including me) is a huge believer in Bacon. However, much like Kidd-Gilchrist, he finds himself playing a position where three to four players can make a legitimate case to be the starter. Nicolas Batum is likely going to be the starter with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Miles Bridges (who will see some minutes at the four) being the backups. It has yet to be seen whether or not Bacon is able to play shooting guard.

Jeremy Lamb and Malik Monk are already eating up minutes at that position, but both can play point guard if needed, and it would be unreasonable to think that the aging Tony Parker could play anywhere near a full 82 games. Bacon is a player that is deserving of a role, but with the current situation, it is difficult to find a place for Bacon to receive any significant minutes, at least not early in the season.

Willy Hernangomez/Bismack Biyombo

Just a few weeks ago, it seemed that Cody Zeller and Willy Hernangomez were set to be the two centers receiving minutes on the roster. Things changed when Charlotte acquired Bismack Biyombo in a three-team trade with Orlando and Chicago. Biyombo spent the first three seasons of his career in Charlotte and was a good athlete and defender with not much offensive game.

Not much has changed since then (except the contract that Orlando inexplicably gave him in 2016), but Biyombo is still a player who can contribute nightly in the NBA. Cody Zeller figures to be the game one starter, but who backs him up is yet to be determined. Having a three-center rotation is next to impossible, so one of Hernangomez and Biyombo is going to find themselves watching instead of playing.

Next: What if Charlotte's young players live up to their potential?

Hernangomez impressed in Summer League, but the Summer League may as well be named the Overreaction Invitational. It is anyone’s guess who Borrego favors at this point, but either way, someone is going to be disappointed.

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