If all you know of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is his broken jumper, you have not been watching closely enough. First off, Mike Price helped improve that jumper, and he shot 50 percent last season between 10 and 16 feet (that’s not to say the jumper is good, just not painful-to-watch wretched anymore). More than that, MKG brings relentless energy, fantastic defense, and his offense is improving leading to him scoring 10.9 points a game last season. There have been real strides of development, signs of leadership, and he is still just 21 years old.
With all that potential, and in this financial market, the Charlotte Hornets made a good bet on him.
The two sides reached terms on four-year, $52 million contract extension, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
He is a cornerstone of what they are building— the Hornets were 6-20 when he was out last season injured because they cannot replace what he brings. If you can get a key starter in this market for $13 million a year, that is a good deal in the current NBA economy. Let alone one who is young and on the rise.
Kidd-Gilchrist is the best Hornet defender, drawing the toughest perimeter assignment nightly. Now with him and just-signed Nicolas Batum, Charlotte should be an improved defensive team for Steve Clifford.
But more than that, it’s the constant motor that makes him both fun to watch and a key to Charlotte’s success — when a guy working that hard is on the court, everyone else steps up around him.
This is a bet by the Hornets on MKG’s offense, which is still a liability because of his jumper. That said, with his improved jumper he was more confident last season, more aggressive and attacking (he drew fouls at a good clip). If he keeps taking strides on that end of the court, the Hornets become far more dangerous.
Consider this is a fair deal for both sides. MKG gets some security and a healthy pay raise (starting in 2017, he has one more season on his rookie deal). The Hornets lock up a guy who can be a cornerstone part of what they are building.