OMFKG! The Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Thread II

[yosemiteben]

Ample time at 20 years old?

This is what I don't get. How can you say if he doesn't have a great jumper by 20 he can't improve and won't be an NBA starter? If he stayed in college and dominated and then got drafted this year at number 1 people would have been thrilled and would have been ok with giving him a year or two to get that jumper in order.

[EwingSweatsALot]

Pretty much every single advanced metric considers MKG a starting SF in this league. He even had a better WS/48 than Hayward this past year.

The guy is a starting caliber player in the NBA. He is an elite on ball defender, an above average off ball defender, a good finisher, and an elite rebounder for his position. He can't shoot. He is working on it. He showed about a 10% improvement before his broken hand last year from mid range compared to the previous year. The broken hand probably reverted him back to his old ways, which hindered his development. He ended up shooting just above what he shot from mid range last year. The guy can play. Defense is 50% of the game and he is elite at it.

So if defense is 50% and offense is 50%, what would that make MKG overall? Say he is what 45% at defense, still has some room to grow against top guys and off ball. On offense, it is more like 17%(random number). Below average, can't shoot, but rebounds the ball well on that end, finishes well, and can get to the hole. That makes him a full overall at 62%. Above average, and a starter. Obviously, this isn't the best metric, I just thought of it off the top of my head to try and simplify the fact that defense is just as important as offense.

[yosemiteben]

My point is that if this team wants to seriously contend he will not do. You can make a list of how many SFs are better than him and that list would be substantial. That means he's not a major building block. MKG would be a bench player on most teams in the West and in the East he still wouldn't be in the top tier of starters.

How many starting NBA SFs are within even three years of age of him though? If I hadn't been drinking I'd look it up myself.

[JDR720]

My point is that if this team wants to seriously contend he will not do. You can make a list of how many SFs are better than him and that list would be substantial. That means he's not a major building block. MKG would be a bench player on most teams in the West and in the East he still wouldn't be in the top tier of starters.

How many starting NBA SFs are within even three years of age of him though? If I hadn't been drinking I'd look it up myself.

he is younger that a lot of this years rookies

[Absinthe]

When this guy is 25, still playing for the Hornets, still can't shoot, and on a terrible contract will some of you still be saying, "Be patient" and "He's only in his mid twenties"?

[DY_nasty]

i guess we'll see in a few years

Learning to shoot right takes a lot of time, he has had a shooting coach for less than one year and he is just 20, he has plenty of time to become a decent shooter, he was shooting just under 40% from midrange before he broke his hand this past season

That's still absolutely terrible for a guy that's basically guaranteed to be dared to shoot by defenses.

That's just right around average for the league from mid range. If MKG can improve on his before broken hand stats, so say 43% from mid range, that can be deadly. They still have to move an extra step or two closer which then allows his elite athleticism to be used even more to get in the lane.

People back off so that they cut off penetration angles easier... cmon

He's dared to shoot. An MKG jumpshot is a win for any defense. His shot was absolutely pathetic. No need to sugarcoat it. 40% from Kemba is bad - but at least he's guarded. People run for outlet passes when MKG lets it fly. It is what it is.

[yosemiteben]

When this guy is 25, still playing for the Hornets, still can't shoot, and on a terrible contract will some of you still be saying, "Be patient" and "He's only in his mid twenties"?

Sure, but how can you say how he'll be shooting FIVE YEARS from now?

[LofJ]

My point is that if this team wants to seriously contend he will not do. You can make a list of how many SFs are better than him and that list would be substantial. That means he's not a major building block. MKG would be a bench player on most teams in the West and in the East he still wouldn't be in the top tier of starters.

Durant, Leonard, Parsons, Iguadala, Batum, and Gay are better than MKG in the West. That is hardly the entire conference. You are wildly exaggerating. The Clippers, Wolves, Jazz, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Lakers, and Nuggets trotted out garbage at the 3 last year. The Hawks, Magic, Raptors, Bulls, and Pistons would all be trilled to have him as well.

[Elden Payton]

My point is that if this team wants to seriously contend he will not do. You can make a list of how many SFs are better than him and that list would be substantial. That means he's not a major building block. MKG would be a bench player on most teams in the West and in the East he still wouldn't be in the top tier of starters.

Durant, Leonard, Parsons, Iguadala, Batum, and Gay are better than MKG in the West. That is hardly the entire conference. You are wildly exaggerating. The Clippers, Wolves, Jazz, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Lakers, and Nuggets trotted out garbage at the 3 last year. The Hawks, Magic, Raptors, Bulls, and Pistons would all be trilled to have him as well.

Once you factor in contracts, the value changes as well.

MKG is a top tier SF prospect, absolutely no doubt about that.

[JDR720]

[Elden Payton]

As a fanbase, we're quite realistic to the point of bordering on pessimism.

Maybe not quite so with the UCONN fans and Kemba but aside from that, our fans try to be reasonable after so many years of bitter disappointment.

Not a single poster is trying to claim that MKG is definitely going to be Scottie Pippen etc or anything ridiculous like that, but he is a starter caliber player in the NBA who has many strings to his bow and plenty of time to add the elusive one.

People claiming that MKG is NEVER going to do this, or that, are talking out of their behinds imo.

Who knows at this point? All I do know, is that we would certainly have not made the playoffs last season, without him, and who else at 20 years old was so integral to their team's success?

[LofJ]

Damn right

[EwingSweatsALot]

My point is that if this team wants to seriously contend he will not do. You can make a list of how many SFs are better than him and that list would be substantial. That means he's not a major building block. MKG would be a bench player on most teams in the West and in the East he still wouldn't be in the top tier of starters.

How many starting NBA SFs are within even three years of age of him though? If I hadn't been drinking I'd look it up myself.

Well since I don't drink, even though Bonnell claims I do, I looked it up.

There are 4 starting SFs within 3 years of MKG:

Terrence Ross- 2 years and 10 months
Kawhi Leonard- 2 years and 8 months
Khris Middleton- 2 years
Mo Harkless(started more than any other SF on that team)- 9 months

If you want to count Giannis you can because he will start and did at the end of the year, but that kicks out Middleton.

NBA starting SFs are on average 7 years and 8 months older than MKG.

If you said MKG aged to the end of his 4 years here(assuming we pick up his next option as well) and no one else ages then only one starter would be younger than him, by 3 months.

Nobody is saying he is an all star, no one is saying he is a great SF. But at the age of 20, he is a starting caliber SF at the young age of 20. Give him to the end of his contract and if he still cannot shoot at the age of 22 then OK, he will be what he is. But i expect improvement over these next couple of years. Maybe I am just positive and don't give up on 20 year old kids 2 years into their career on a franchise that is known for it's poor player development.

[EwingSweatsALot]

i guess we'll see in a few years

That's still absolutely terrible for a guy that's basically guaranteed to be dared to shoot by defenses.

That's just right around average for the league from mid range. If MKG can improve on his before broken hand stats, so say 43% from mid range, that can be deadly. They still have to move an extra step or two closer which then allows his elite athleticism to be used even more to get in the lane.

People back off so that they cut off penetration angles easier... cmon

He's dared to shoot. An MKG jumpshot is a win for any defense. His shot was absolutely pathetic. No need to sugarcoat it. 40% from Kemba is bad - but at least he's guarded. People run for outlet passes when MKG lets it fly. It is what it is.

Oh i get it. I understand what they do now, but what I am saying is if he does improve. If he does start shooting 43% from mid range. Whether someone is on him or not that is a huge plus. If he starts shooting 43% and they back off him, then you take that shot every single time. If they come up on them then those angles can't be cut off. I understand what he is now, but what I am saying is if he can continue improvement(I do consider the time before he broke his hand improvement) then the kid will be a top caliber SF.

[yosemiteben]

My point is that if this team wants to seriously contend he will not do. You can make a list of how many SFs are better than him and that list would be substantial. That means he's not a major building block. MKG would be a bench player on most teams in the West and in the East he still wouldn't be in the top tier of starters.

How many starting NBA SFs are within even three years of age of him though? If I hadn't been drinking I'd look it up myself.

Well since I don't drink, even though Bonnell claims I do, I looked it up.

There are 4 starting SFs within 3 years of MKG:

Terrence Ross- 2 years and 10 months
Kawhi Leonard- 2 years and 8 months
Khris Middleton- 2 years
Mo Harkless(started more than any other SF on that team)- 9 months

If you want to count Giannis you can because he will start and did at the end of the year, but that kicks out Middleton.

NBA starting SFs are on average 7 years and 8 months older than MKG.

If you said MKG aged to the end of his 4 years here(assuming we pick up his next option as well) and no one else ages then only one starter would be younger than him, by 3 months.

Nobody is saying he is an all star, no one is saying he is a great SF. But at the age of 20, he is a starting caliber SF at the young age of 20. Give him to the end of his contract and if he still cannot shoot at the age of 22 then OK, he will be what he is. But i expect improvement over these next couple of years. Maybe I am just positive and don't give up on 20 year old kids 2 years into their career on a franchise that is known for it's poor player development.

Bravo good sir

[vorbis]

to address the question of MKG at age 20 versus 25: those five years make ALL of the difference. if he is the same player at 25 that he is at 20 then of course he will be viewed completely differently. as a prospect and as a salary evaluation. he'll also still be worth a roster spot. so if you're wondering how long is long enough to wait? longer than 2 seasons, i say.

[aussiewill]

Mavs fan here out of curiosity. With the contract offer to Hayward, does that put MKG in the doghouse? I can only assume from face value, but he didn't seem to progress in year 2, maybe even to the point of regression?

Anyway, the point I'm going to make is would you guys be will to trade him for Brandon Wright? Same dollar value owed this season. We need a starting 3 and I can see us striking out on anyone worth while on the FA market and Marion is past it as a starter in this league.

[Liver_Pooty]

Mavs fan here out of curiosity. With the contract offer to Hayward, does that put MKG in the doghouse? I can only assume from face value, but he didn't seem to progress in year 2, maybe even to the point of regression?

Anyway, the point I'm going to make is would you guys be will to trade him for Brandon Wright? Same dollar value owed this season. We need a starting 3 and I can see us striking out on anyone worth while on the FA market and Marion is past it as a starter in this league.

Lol, absolutely not. Hayward and MKG is a match made in heaven.

[TheKingofSting2]

I may make this my avy after the World Cup.

[trins]

http://instagram.com/p/qMgTzdrwC0/?modal=true

Doesn't this look good ? I hope he doesn't relegate to his old form when the season starts, just like last year.