Charlotte Hornets’ forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is expected to be out six months after having right shoulder surgery Tuesday night.
The best defender on the Hornets’ roster, Kidd-Gilchrist, tore his labrum and dislocated his shoulder in Saturday’s preseason game against the Orlando Magic. It is likely that he will miss the entire 2015-16 NBA season, as a six-month recovery timeframe means Kidd-Gilchrist will not be able to suit up until the final weeks of the season in April, at the earliest.
Kidd-Gilchrist, 22, had signed a four-year, $52 million contract extension in September, and was poised to make a leap this season as one of the Hornets’ cornerstone players going forward, but instead the team will have to look to newcomers Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lamb to replace Kidd-Gilchrist’s production on both ends of the floor.
The former No. 2 pick of the 2012 NBA Draft averaged 10.9 points and 7.6 rebounds in 55 games last season, emerging as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
Per Yahoo Sports, Charlotte was 27-28 last season when Kidd-Gilchrist played a 6-21 without him, allowing five more points per game in his absence.
While the loss of Kidd-Gilchrist is a tremendous blow to the Hornets’ playoff aspirations, head coach Steve Clifford believes that his team is still in good shape.
“One of the things we were able to do over the offseason is improve our depth, so we have some guys who I feel are ready to emerge,” Clifford said. “I still feel really good about our team.”
The Hornets tip-off their season on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 28, against the Miami Heat.