Motor Keeps Going: The Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Thread III

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #1261 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 7:17 pm

I hated Cliff putting MKG in the "shame corner" back in the day. I still think it was a mistake to "rebuild" his shot at that time, especially given that Mark Price wasn't around to finish the job. I wonder what he would be like if he had started off the bench like all of our other rookies and been told to work on ball handling / driving ... then, once he could score that way reliably with confidence, started working on his outside shot to round out his game.

I 100% agree that MKG needs to shoot 3s ... and the fact that he can't means it's time to move on now.

Joest2003 · Post #1262 » by **Joest2003** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 7:21 pm

MotorKeepsGoing wrote: I definitely want to see what he does for a new coach before we decide to move on from him, because I know he will blow up if we trade him.

How exactly does a SF who can't shoot 3s (or shoot in general) in today's NBA blow up? Whatever team he is on he will always be the last resort when it comes to offense. He can't make plays for others or shoot. If he gets traded he's more likely to get DNPCDs than to blow up.

mrknowitall215 · Post #1263 » by **mrknowitall215** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:17 pm

I believe the MKG era is coming to a end in Charlotte this offseason. I don't think the front office will view him as a part of the future any longer and I don't blame them based on his production this season. If he's not traded then he'll likely have to fight for his starting spot rather being penciled in as he has in the past

MasterIchiro · Post #1264 » by **MasterIchiro** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:48 pm

Joest2003 wrote:
MotorKeepsGoing wrote: I definitely want to see what he does for a new coach before we decide to move on from him, because I know he will blow up if we trade him.

How exactly does a SF who can't shoot 3s (or shoot in general) in today's NBA blow up? Whatever team he is on he will always be the last resort when it comes to offense. He can't make plays for others or shoot. If he gets traded he's more likely to get DNPCDs than to blow up.

Kupchak really has to move MKG. I'm dying for it to happen. I just think it would be easier for the remaining talent on the team to thrive playing a more perimeter style offense that Clifford seems to covet.

Bassman · Post #1265 » by **Bassman** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:42 am

Joest2003 wrote:
MotorKeepsGoing wrote: I definitely want to see what he does for a new coach before we decide to move on from him, because I know he will blow up if we trade him.

How exactly does a SF who can't shoot 3s (or shoot in general) in today's NBA blow up? Whatever team he is on he will always be the last resort when it comes to offense. He can't make plays for others or shoot. If he gets traded he's more likely to get DNPCDs than to blow up.

Indeed, at this point he’s made zero progress toward becoming a player worthy of starter minutes. He is a non factor as a scorer or shooter. Frankly he is not anywhere close to a lockdown defender. Not sure we get much for him, but time to cut bait. We need cap space, and it is impossible to move Batum. I hope he is dealt for anyone willing to give us a 1st round pick (likely late round but hey, it’s a gamble for them too).

Joest2003 · Post #1266 » by **Joest2003** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:04 pm

Bassman wrote:
Joest2003 wrote:
MotorKeepsGoing wrote: I definitely want to see what he does for a new coach before we decide to move on from him, because I know he will blow up if we trade him.

How exactly does a SF who can't shoot 3s (or shoot in general) in today's NBA blow up? Whatever team he is on he will always be the last resort when it comes to offense. He can't make plays for others or shoot. If he gets traded he's more likely to get DNPCDs than to blow up.

Indeed, at this point he’s made zero progress toward becoming a player worthy of starter minutes. He is a non factor as a scorer or shooter. Frankly he is not anywhere close to a lockdown defender. Not sure we get much for him, but time to cut bait. We need cap space, and it is impossible to move Batum. I hope he is dealt for anyone willing to give us a 1st round pick (likely late round but hey, it’s a gamble for them too).

We ain't getting a first round pick for MKG. I would be surprised if we could even get a second round pick for him.

KingCat · Post #1267 » by **KingCat** » Sun May 27, 2018 12:50 am

So how long till we get a 15 second video of MKG showing off his "New Jumper" this offseason?

JMAC3 · Post #1268 » by **JMAC3** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 12:55 pm

Looking at Mkg I feel bad for him, this has to be the worst development attempt of a #2 pick in history. It was like the front office decided that it was too much work and just gave up and settled for him to be a failure.if we had Aaron Gordon he would be just like like Mkg.

We basically decided he couldn’t shoot and then put him in the shame corner. We never tried to develop any part of his offensive game. I can’t really remember us ever using him as the ball handler in pnr. We never tried using him as a screener. Never tried developing a post game.

We were a bad team, you’re telling me we couldn’t give him 5 possessions a game to work on these things? That’s how players like butler, pg13 and gordon Hayward became allstars. Their team gave them confidence and in game reps.

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Post #1269 » by **fatlever** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:44 pm

MKG shares a lot of blame as well.

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #1270 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:55 pm

I'm not really interested in blame.

For me the bottom line is that MKG doesn't have the shooting, passing, or creation ability needed to be good in a modern NBA offense. He's a great young man who works really hard, and it's possible to think of scenarios where he might be able to play a major role, but not here, not now.

Liver_Pooty · Post #1271 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:59 pm

We had nothing to do with MKG's confidence issues, he had them before he even came here. In an interview right after the draft John Calipari said that MKG called him scared half to death that he wasn't going to be good enough to play in the NBA right off. I don't think I've ever heard of a number 2 overall pick doing that. Like Fats said, he shares a ton of blame.

LofJ · Post #1272 » by **LofJ** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:09 pm

Liver_Pooty wrote:We had nothing to do with MKG's confidence issues, he had them before he even came here. In an interview right after the draft John Calipari said that MKG called him scared half to death that he wasn't going to be good enough to play in the NBA right off. I don't think I've ever heard of a number 2 overall pick doing that. Like Fats said, he shares a ton of blame.

We needed to find a sports psychologist to work with him. I understand being nervous as a teenager about to join the big leagues, but as raw as he was he still undoubtedly belonged in the NBA. It's a real shame that he's gone this long and hasn't been able to find his confidence, and at this point it may never happen. If he wants to get another decent contract he needs to find it.

Liver_Pooty · Post #1273 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:11 pm

LofJ wrote:
Liver_Pooty wrote:We had nothing to do with MKG's confidence issues, he had them before he even came here. In an interview right after the draft John Calipari said that MKG called him scared half to death that he wasn't going to be good enough to play in the NBA right off. I don't think I've ever heard of a number 2 overall pick doing that. Like Fats said, he shares a ton of blame.

We needed to find a sports psychologist to work with him. I understand being nervous as a teenager about to join the big leagues, but as raw as he was he still undoubtedly belonged in the NBA. It's a real shame that he's gone this long and hasn't been able to find his confidence, and at this point it may never happen. If he wants to get another decent contract he needs to find it.

Although much improved it can still be painful to watch him in interviews. For a good looking young man who is a millionaire he doesn't seem to have any confidence in not only basketball, but in himself in general if that makes sense. Its really sad. Be incredible if he broke out this year though. Im not betting on it happening

SWedd523 · Post #1274 » by **SWedd523** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 10:08 pm

JMAC3 wrote:Looking at Mkg I feel bad for him, this has to be the worst development attempt of a #2 pick in history. It was like the front office decided that it was too much work and just gave up and settled for him to be a failure.if we had Aaron Gordon he would be just like like Mkg.

We basically decided he couldn’t shoot and then put him in the shame corner. We never tried to develop any part of his offensive game. I can’t really remember us ever using him as the ball handler in pnr. We never tried using him as a screener. Never tried developing a post game.

Wait a second, how many different shooting coaches were brought in to rebuild his jumper? At least two.

tondi123 · Post #1275 » by **tondi123** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:50 am

Love the guy but people all over the world learn to shoot a basketball with little or no help from anyone. He's had professional coaches coaching him for years and he's still the same player he was when he got here, if not worse. He should feel lucky he went to Kentucky because he'd already be out of the league, or playing for the vet minimum, right now otherwise. How a guy can hustle so much yet not develop his game beyond "hustle" over the course of several years is truly baffling.

Rich4114 · Post #1276 » by **Rich4114** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:44 am

Vanderbilt_Grad wrote:I'm not really interested in blame.

For me the bottom line is that MKG doesn't have the shooting, passing, or creation ability needed to be good in a modern NBA offense. He's a great young man who works really hard, and it's possible to think of scenarios where he might be able to play a major role, but not here, not now.

Well said! This I agree with 100%

Rich4114 · Post #1277 » by **Rich4114** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:47 am

Two seasons ago, I was really excited at what we looked to have in MKG when he came out and started taking threes. Then he got hurt and his shooting seemed to regress. No doubt that his defense is highly valuable, but if you can’t shoot and you can’t create for others then unless you’re 7ft tall and play center, you don’t really fit in the NBA.

316Hornets · Post #1278 » by **316Hornets** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:55 am

I actually like MKG.. A LOT. He needs to be on a team that attacks though. I'm talking shooting 7 seconds or less on the shot clock. Don't give him a chance to think; just shoot.

Maybe a trade to Phoenix?

Liver_Pooty · Post #1279 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 4:01 am

Rich4114 wrote:Two seasons ago, I was really excited at what we looked to have in MKG when he came out and started taking threes. Then he got hurt and his shooting seemed to regress. No doubt that his defense is highly valuable, but if you can’t shoot and you can’t create for others then unless you’re 7ft tall and play center, you don’t really fit in the NBA.

His defense is so overrated its insane. I dont care what analytics say but hes above average

KingCat · Post #1280 » by **KingCat** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 4:04 am

I also feel bad for this guy. There is no world where a player of MKG's caliber should be selected #2 overall. Gave him unrealistic expectations. If MKG was a guy selected 15-30, people would be looking at him as a solid player. Now he is a 2 overall pick that is looked like as a bust. I don't blame MKG, he is who is he is, I blame our garbage former front office. Kemba is the one player they have drafted in the past in the past 10 years that as surpassed expectations. Everyone else has busted, or really hasn't done much in this league