Motor Keeps Going: The Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Thread III

amcoolio · Post #981 » by **amcoolio** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:21 pm

I think as a fifth option starter he is fine. The problem was Batum was super streaky, our center position was a mess for most of the year and Marvin didn't show up til the final month. If we replace Marvin with someone like Carmelo Anthony, and Frank starts instead of Cody Zeller, then MKG would be a great starter.

MKG is going to look anemic if the players around him fail like they did on occasion this season. Thats not to say he wasn't disappointing and needs to get better, but whats the point of trading him for nickles. He is still super young and has a great worth ethic.

amcoolio · Post #982 » by **amcoolio** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:23 pm

Then again relying on being healthy isn't the best idea for this franchise.

catch20two · Post #983 » by **catch20two** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 8:43 pm

MKG's 2017-18 stock is add a 3pter or bust to me. It's ridiculous at this point that he doesn't even attempt short corner 3s as a wing player no matter how open he is.

Sidebar: We would be the team to bank on OG Anunoby knee holding up after he went down and clutched it a couple times during this past season at Indiana before ruling him out for the year.

Mystical Apples · Post #984 » by **Mystical Apples** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:16 pm

fatlever wrote:I think the biggest negative impact MKG has on the team is in the 4th quarter, specifically down the stretch. Play MKG and risk closing any space for Kemba and others to operate. Sit MKG and risk not being able to stop anyone. Our coach seemed to prefer the latter of those two options this year and it killed us

I generally agree. By the same token CHA was rarely in position to protect large Q4 leads, often forcing Clifford into either/or decisions which resulted in somewhat self-fulfilling Q4 defensive stats.

The solution is acquiring offensive production that doesn't require sitting MKG every time.

Overall point is that I am done considering MKG an automatic starter. I am done thinking he is untradeable (or close to it as far as our players are concerned). I am also done believing in his potential. He is what he is until he proves otherwise.

Fair enough. IMO he's currently undervalued because he's quite obviously out of position....and because he's 23... and defensive versatility is greatly undervalued. I'd move MKG to PF except when starting against wings.

Mystical Apples · Post #985 » by **Mystical Apples** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 10:47 pm

Showing minutes after removing garbage time and lineups with sub-replacement players. I wouldn't draw any definitive conclusions but there's clearly 1 NetRtg that's inconsistent with the overall trend.

Bassman · Post #986 » by **Bassman** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 11:04 pm

I found it nearly miraculous that Hyphen developed a nominal jump shot after the shot doctor Mark Price invested tons of time. After his shoulder surgery, we lost Price and MKG lost his shot. No way that gets reconstructed without another massive coaching investment and we do not have the shot whisperer anymore.

No offense, but it amazes me how many people still talk about Hyphen just getting that shot to work, like it's easy. For something that broken you get one try with the right specialist. Bad luck bites us again.

If I could find a team wanting him for good value I'd deal, before he falls into the caste system completely. Reputations are built within the first several seasons. His time for trading to a believer is getting close to over (if not done already). His defense is good but not great. He would be a very good glue guy on a super talented team.

SeanBobcats · Post #987 » by **SeanBobcats** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 11:54 pm

I've been as big of an MKG fan as anyone, but at this point I think I'm willing to say that he's simply a bust. He's not a bad player or anything, but he has been very underwhelming thus far. I honestly don't think we'd get any great type of value worth trading him for, so might as well let him ride out his contract and see if he make any progress as a player considering that he's on a pretty solid contract. I wanted Miles Bridges in this draft to potentially be eased in as his replacement, but since he's going back to school I'm not sure I see any wings that are worth taking at number 11 unless Isaac, Monk, or Tatum slip to us which is unlikely.

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #988 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 12:59 am

I don't view MKG as a bust, but as a guy in the wrong situation. The team needs shooting from him that he simply doesn't have. His handle isn't strong enough to support a great driving game either. The team needs to explore trading him to see if they can get guys who fit the system better.

I like MKG. I really wish that it was in the Hornet's best interest to keep him. But that's not the case IMHO.

All that said, it's not worthwhile to trade him for a one dimensional sorcerer. Given Cho's situation I don't think that they would trade him for a pick by itself either. This next year is going to be a win now year. If the team can't replace MKG with a starting SG/SF then they can't afford to trade him.

Cliff isn't going to start Lamb unless his D gets better. None of us want Beli to start. Cliff is super unlikely to start a rookie. So if MKG goes, then somehow he has to be replaced.

Liver_Pooty · Post #989 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 1:32 am

MKG is our Emeka Okafor. Could have had Howard, got stuck with a really solid player who liked yoga too much. Could have had Davis, got stuck with MKG.

Im honestly not sure MKG is on our roster in 3 months.

316Hornets · Post #990 » by **316Hornets** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 1:39 am

MKG needs to pick up a 3 point shot and embrace a Trevor Ariza like role.

He is only 23 years old btw.

Braggins · Post #991 » by **Braggins** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 1:59 am

Mystical Apples wrote:...he's quite obviously out of position... I'd move MKG to PF except when starting against wings.

Agree, but I don't think your boy Clifford will ever do this.

chellis · Post #992 » by **chellis** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:13 am

316Hornets wrote:MKG needs to pick up a 3 point shot and embrace a Trevor Ariza like role.

He is only 23 years old btw.

We've all said that. His role in this league would best be served to develop a shot. For all the talk that he's got a killer work ethic, I'm shocked he hasn't been able to develop more part to his game. At this point MKG is what he is. I know he's only 23 but he's been in the league what, 5 years already?

spaceballer · Post #993 » by **spaceballer** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 12:49 pm

I think the injury last season may have interrupted his shot development progress, but I was really hoping for better shooting from him this year. I thought he was primed for a breakout year if he got his long ball going.

RHJ is someone who has been compared to MKG in some ways, and he is doing well since moving to starting PF despite a shaky and still developing long ball. Partly that is because Brook Lopez can help spacing by transforming into a stretch 5. Perhaps MKG can find success if paired with a stretch 5. Brook suddenly turned into stretch 5 after not having shot many 3pters in all the preceding years...perhaps MKG's shooting woes and effect on spacing can be alleviated similarly if Cody or Frank can make a similar transformation into a credible and consistent 3pt threat at the 5.

catch20two · Post #994 » by **catch20two** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 3:59 pm

At least RHJ attempt 3s.

SWedd523 · Post #995 » by **SWedd523** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 4:10 pm

catch20two wrote:At least RHJ attempt 3s.

On 22.4%

Probably not the most efficient decision

Post #996 » by **fatlever** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 4:17 pm

^You gotta start somewhere.

Post #997 » by **fatlever** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 4:17 pm

This ties into my biggest concern with MKG

Read on Twitter

Post #998 » by **yosemiteben** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 4:20 pm

fatlever wrote:^You gotta start somewhere.

So we would be happier if he shot 20% from three with more attempts?

Post #999 » by **fatlever** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 4:25 pm

Fair point - 1st summer since 2014 that MKG has been healthy heading into the summer, allowing him to work on improving, rather than rehab. How much of a difference will that make in his game come October?
- 3pt shooting
- ball handling
- play making
- left hand, finishing and dribbling
- shooting w/out a rhythm dribble
- getting stronger in anticipation of more PF minutes (pipe dream?)

spaceballer · Post #1000 » by **spaceballer** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 4:28 pm

SWedd523 wrote:
catch20two wrote:At least RHJ attempt 3s.

On 22.4%

Probably not the most efficient decision

Indeed, that is why I thought the analogy would work for MKG. Since being moved to starting PF next to a stretch five Brook Lopez, his offensive game has really opened up tremendously and doesn't require RHJ shooting 3pters to be effective.

He will probably continue to shoot open 3s as Kenny wants him to develop, but that is a long term issue. In the short term he experienced a recent offensive revival with driving or cutting through all that open space created by a stretch five. Perhaps MKG can do the same if a stretch five opened up the lanes for him, so that he doesn't need to depend on his long ball. MKG could play the Cody role of rim running on offense if Cody or Frank can be the stretch five. Who has a better chance of shooting better from 3, MKG or Cody/Frank?