Charlotte Hornets: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s future a hot topic entering training camp
Training Camp is underway for the Charlotte Hornets, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s role and future with the team moving forward is as cloudy as ever.
For the most part, every Charlotte Hornets player was all smiles during Media Day on Monday. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was cracking some jokes as he made his rounds around the gym, but there was a sudden awkwardness when discussing his role with the ball club.
Kidd-Gilchrist told the media that he doesn’t know how he fits with this team and declined to comment on his potential role with the team. As the days go by, MKG’s future in Charlotte looks more and more like it won’t last beyond the 2019-20 season.
After opting-in to his contract during the summer, Kidd-Gilchrist figures to be lost in the deck of cards for the Charlotte Hornets, who are in the midst of a rebuild. He may be in the rotation at times, but it’s safe to assume that the Hornets will prioritize getting minutes to some of their younger pieces instead.
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He’s coming off the worst season of his career in 2018-19, where he averaged just 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 18.4 minutes, while players like Miles Bridges and Dwayne Bacon flourished down the stretch and will have featured roles this season.
Last month, I wrote about Kidd-Gilchrist and how it appears that he is the odd man out for the Charlotte Hornets going into the 2019-20 season. You can check that out here.
Injuries and his offensive limitations have hurt him during his career thus far. MKG is a very good perimeter defender, but fans were hoping to see his offensive game catch up by now, but it just hasn’t happened.
I believe there is still a place in the league for Kidd-Gilchrist, of course, but his next contract will be nowhere near the $13 million annually that he is earning now, and that contract won’t come from the Charlotte Hornets.
The good thing for Kidd-Gilchrist is that he is only 26 years old and still has some upside. It feels like he’s been in the league forever, hasn’t it? Hopefully he will get a shot with a new team after this season and get some more playing time.
Kidd-Gilchrist was, of course, the second overall pick back in 2012, sandwiched in-between Anthony Davis, who went first overall to New Orleans and Bradley Beal, who went third overall to Washington.
Even though he was the consensus second overall pick by most people back in 2012, this will go down as another draft mess up for the Hornets considering Beal was on the board, along with Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond, Draymond Green and Khris Middleton.
To be fair, not many expected Green and Middleton to be as good as they are now, but you get my point. Yikes!
Next. Miles Bridges wants to shoot 38 percent or better on threes. dark
He hasn’t become an All-Star talent like those players, but he’s been a serviceable player for the Charlotte Hornets for many years now. It hasn’t worked out like fans had hoped for, I know, but I’m hoping MKG can salvage his career and find some success again in the future.