Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will likely have a reduced role under new coach James Borrego and may not last the entire season with the Hornets, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer in a question-and-answer column. Since being taken second overall in the 2012 draft, Kidd-Gilchrist has started all but four of the games in which he has appeared during his six seasons in Charlotte, but his position may be in jeopardy.
Bonnell cites “offensive limitations” that will make him less appealing with Borrego in charge. In a league where most forwards are expected to help stretch the defense, Kidd-Gilchrist only attempted two 3-pointers last season and is 7 for 36 from long distance for his career.
With a $13MM contract for this season and a $13MM player option for 2019/20, Kidd-Gilchrist won’t be easy to move. Bonnell speculates that GM Mitch Kupchak might have more success around the trade deadline, but still may have to take on long-term salary in return.
Bonnell passes on more Hornets information in the same piece:
- Borrego emphasizes quick decision making on offense, which is among the reasons Dwight Howard was traded away after a productive season. The new coach wants constant movement and doesn’t like to see players holding onto the ball while deciding their next move. Howard is often criticized for slowing down the offense with his low-post game.
- The Hornets may not be in a hurry to make trades before training camp opens next month because Borrego would like some time to evaluate his players to see who best fits his system.
- First-round pick Miles Bridges will be used primarily at small forward, but Borrego may experiment with him as a stretch four during preseason. Bonnell notes that Bridges dropped about 20 pounds between college and Summer League, where he showed that he can distribute the ball and create mismatches.
- Team owner Michael Jordan shouldn’t be judged harshly for the Hornets’ failure to attract free agents. The organization is well over the salary cap, and Charlotte doesn’t offer the natural advantages that some other cities do. Bonnell states that if Jordan were running the Lakers, he would have been just as successful as Magic Johnson when it came to luring LeBron James.
- Jordan can’t circumvent the salary cap to give extra money to impending free agent Kemba Walker through his shoe deal. Walker is a paid endorser of the Jordan Brand, as are some other Hornets, but the league laid out rules against using that to get around the cap way back when Jordan first got a stake in the Wizards.
They might have to give up some serious asset if they wanna get rid of MKG, but at the end of the day it would be worthy. They need to start from scratch.
Houston maybe?
I thought the exact samething…He’s a perfect fit for Houston, and their needs..
Anderson for MKG and a 2nd rounder??
Jordan has been part owner since 2006, how is he not responsible for the poor contracts, poor drafting, poor GM’s? He has to be accountable like other owners that suck.
From what I’ve heard, Jordan does a lot of meddling and micromanaging of the Hornets.
Either way, the Hornets failures are on Jordan.
Why in the world would you hire a guy to implement an offense that your roster is not optimized to succeed with? A smart coach or GM does not develop an offense and then expect everyone else to adapt. A smart coach/GM looks at his talent and develops an offense based on the skills that are already there.
Frankly, there is no offensive scheme that Charlotte has the personnel to play particularly well. No matter how you slice it, there just aren’t enough quality players on the roster.