How will Kidd-Gilchrist's injury affect Charlotte's future?
The Charlotte Hornets were depending on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to make major strides and potentially emerge as their best player this season. But shoulder surgery has made that impossible.
How will Kidd-Gilchrist's absence affect the organization's long-term future? They wanted so badly to make the postseason this year, but now that looks borderline impossible. Here's more from SB Nation's At the Hive:
This team was built to win now. Charlotte has several veterans they can sell off in a trade should they choose to punt the season and come back strong next year.
Or, the Hornets can "replace" Kidd-Gilchrist by exchanging a protected first-round pick for a one-year rental (someone like Evan Turner should be available at the right price). They have all their own first-round draft picks.
Either way, no options look very good right now. This injury really stinks for everyone involved.
On Monday afternoon, the Hornets' outlook became much worse than before. Las Vegas set their over/under for the season at 33.5 which felt low given the disastrous nature of last season, but being under now feels like a real possibility. Losing a key player like Kidd-Gilchrist would be a deflating blow in any year, but especially after Cho and ownership pushed all of their chips into the middle this summer. It feels like everything changed for them in an instant.
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