Will Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Return This Season?
Will the Charlotte Hornets get Michael Kidd-Gilchrist back from injury much sooner than they originally thought?
The injury-riddled Charlotte Hornets got some good news on Wednesday afternoon. According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been cleared to participate in non-contact drills. The next step is getting cleared for full-contact practice, which should happen in the next few weeks.
Hornets seemingly lost Kidd-Gilchrist for the entire regular season during the first game of the preseason. He fell hard to the floor early in the game, resulting in a torn right labrum. The thought at the time was that he would miss at least the entire regular season due to the six-month recovery timetable. Now it appears that there is hope that he will return to the court much sooner.
In the article, Kidd-Gilchrist is adamant about playing this season.
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"“For sure. No question I’m going to play this season,” Kidd-Gilchrist told the Observer Wednesday at shootaround. “I’m going to play. It’s a matter of when now.”"
There’s still healing left to be done, but the idea that he could return to the floor this season has to be music to the ears of Hornets coach Steve Clifford. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a huge part of the Hornets organization and has been their defensive anchor the last few seasons.
Despite being only 22 -years old, Kidd-Gilchrist has developed into one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. Last season he posted the third-best defensive real plus/minus rating for small forwards behind only defensive stalwarts Kawhi Leonard and Tony Allen.
Thanks to his elite defensive skill-set the Hornets elected to make Kidd-Gilchrist part of their long-term core moving forward. Just before the season began, Charlotte inked him to a four-year, $52 million extension, which meant he would not hit restricted free agency in the summer of 2016 when the salary cap is set to explode.
Right now that’s looking like a good deal for both sides. Kidd-Gilchrist has financial security despite his injury, and the Hornets have their defensive anchor under contract for the next four seasons. Now they just have to wait and see if they also get him back for a playoff run.
Adding Kidd-Gilchrist back to the rotation would be a huge boost to Charlotte’s defense. After starting the season 13-8, they lost their fifth game in a row to a struggling Phoenix Suns club Wednesday night. A healthy MKG would help tighten up their 11th-ranked defense (they allow 104 points per 100 possessions).
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Last season the Hornets were significantly better with him on the floor. With Kidd-Gilchrist on the court in 2014-15 Charlotte held opponents to 98.8 points per 100 possessions compared to 107.4 points allowed per 100 possessions when he sat. He even made the offense better, raising the team’s offensive rating from 99.1 to 102.7 when he played.
He may not be a good floor-spacer–he’s a career 16.7 percent three-point shooter–but with his defense and his ability to attack the rim he would undoubtedly be a more reliable starting option than P.J. Hairston.
The fact of the matter is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist makes the Hornets better and right now they need all the help they can get. Realistically speaking, it will still be a long time before he’s actually ready to be back in action.
This isn’t going to be something that happens in the next few games, they still need to get back on track without him or they will no longer be in playoff contention by the time he’s available.
For the time being the team will just have to tread water with the players they do have. The injury gods are starting to provide some relief. Jeremy Lin and Spencer Hawes are back and healthy, Nicolas Batum should return soon, and Jeremy Lamb isn’t expected to miss much time. Once Al Jefferson returns from meniscus surgery then Kidd-Gilchrist will be the final piece of the puzzle.
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With a jam-packed Eastern Conference every little advantage is helpful. The late season return of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could be the difference between the Hornets sneaking into the playoffs or watching from home.