The Official Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Thread

[Bosnian-Bobcats-Fan]

great post by swedd.....MKG defniately looks like a dunlap guy like potato said....great in transition...hard worker...tough....great defender....athlete....jumpshot isnt good at all but with his work ethic i really think he can get it to get good....id take MKG over barnes no doubt but probably would take Trob over MKG.....we'll see

[Plowright]

I think his point is that guys who are serviceable shooters are pretty easy to find. Finding difference making two-way players are not.

Well, we didnt this year... nobody on our team could shoot but i get your point

[SJackson1]

swedd somes it up, great defense leads to easy offense

[QC Thundercats]

I'm still trying to figure out this MKG thing. I really like him as a player, and loved watching him go even though I hate Kentucky, and I think he'll be a good pro. But why does it seem like the national media thinks he's the next greatest prospect in the draft because of his motor? I know he goes harder than most players, but so did Hansbrough. It only gets you so far, especially if your skills are unrefined. An example of the fawning:

Personally, I think Kidd-Gilchrist has a chance to be the second best player in this draft — I especially like him if he lands on a team with a great young point guard like Cleveland. (I'm less bullish if he lands in Charlotte, as he's not the type of player who carries a team on his own yet.) He has more holes in his game than several of the top picks in the draft. He's just a so-so shooter with a hitchy jumper. He's not a great ball handler yet and doesn't really know how to create his own shot. That doesn't scream no. 2 pick.

The bold quotes are so contradictory, and normally prospects with that many weaknesses get crushed and dropped out of the top ten. I'm really not seeing what separates him from other hardworking athletes. Tell me, would you draft this prospect #2?

6'8
215 pounds
3-time National Defensive Player of the Year in college
So-so shooter, not a great ball handler, doesn't really know how to create his own shot

Pretty similar stuff to MKG right? Well this describes the Plastic Man himself, Stacey Augmon, a great journeyman role player. Had awesome heart and hustle. How can people compare MKG to Scottie Pippen (like Chad Ford did in that article), who was a better athlete, ball handler, and shooter, and not see more Augmon?

And then regarding Robinson:

Not only does he have an NBA body and athletic ability, but he's taller than everyone gave him credit for (so we can quit calling him undersized) and I think he plays as hard as anyone in the draft not named MKG. The Kings desperately need players like that, so, of course, this pick will never happen.

So somebody that has a motor and is as hardworking as MKG, but without all those glaring weaknesses, is such a worse prospect that they have him going 5th? People don't think he can't attack all his weaker points with the same zeal as MKG and become a great player?

I know its the last night before the draft and it doesn't really matter anymore, but the rhetoric on MKG always confused me.

[NiceKrispy]

MKG just has a very confusing style of play and I'm not sold on how it will translate to the NBA. I don't take him 2-4.

[notdeadyet]

Very interesting point that he's ALREADY a very good FT shooter and shoulder steadily improve his jumper. MOST high-motor defensive guys with little offense struggle mightily at the FT line. Having just traded Maggette, SF would seem to be a good position to draft.

[SJackson1]

i really like Kemba, Hendo and Biyombo and i think that they will gradually improve season by season. We need a PF and SF and there are many options in this draft to get both of these needs in this draft. Question is which position will we get with our 2/4th pick ?

[adam187]

I'm still trying to figure out this MKG thing. I really like him as a player, and loved watching him go even though I hate Kentucky, and I think he'll be a good pro. But why does it seem like the national media thinks he's the next greatest prospect in the draft because of his motor? I know he goes harder than most players, but so did Hansbrough. It only gets you so far, especially if your skills are unrefined. An example of the fawning:

The bold quotes are so contradictory, and normally prospects with that many weaknesses get crushed and dropped out of the top ten. I'm really not seeing what separates him from other hardworking athletes. Tell me, would you draft this prospect #2?

6'8
215 pounds
3-time National Defensive Player of the Year in college
So-so shooter, not a great ball handler, doesn't really know how to create his own shot

Pretty similar stuff to MKG right? Well this describes the Plastic Man himself, Stacey Augmon, a great journeyman role player. Had awesome heart and hustle. How can people compare MKG to Scottie Pippen (like Chad Ford did in that article), who was a better athlete, ball handler, and shooter, and not see more Augmon?

And then regarding Robinson:
So somebody that has a motor and is as hardworking as MKG, but without all those glaring weaknesses, is such a worse prospect that they have him going 5th? People don't think he can't attack all his weaker points with the same zeal as MKG and become a great player?

I know its the last night before the draft and it doesn't really matter anymore, but the rhetoric on MKG always confused me.

Right? Totally agree. And that article will be read by 100x more people than any thorough draft research you might find on DraftExpress, and those people are just gonna go blindly along with it. Simmons says you need a guy with an elite skill set, fine I can agree with that, but MKG's elite skill set is not athleticism. He was owned by Barnes in that dept at the combine. Just look at the numbers. I guess you could argue age difference was a factor, but I dunno. Show me some facts to back up the claims.

And I'm not sure how MKG suddenly morphs into Pippen. Just doesn't make sense to me. And then yeah, just completely brush over Robinson, who carried his team, instead of being along for the ride on the Anthony Davis Express. Not to mention Robinson is insanely driven and has such a ridiculous killer mentality.

If we take MKG, I'll be fine with it, I'll trust there's a reason. But the Bobcats of all people should know by now that drafting "winners" is the most overrated draft day hype. How many national champions has this team had? We just picked up another in Ben Gordon. I appreciate heart and hustle, but I like it even more when we see it matched with production.

Sorry, your complaints just reminded me of my own when I first read that article and I had to get them out somewhere. Hope you don't mind me piggybacking.

[SJackson1]

welcome to charlotte MKG !

[tom v]

Right? Totally agree. And that article will be read by 100x more people than any thorough draft research you might find on DraftExpress, and those people are just gonna go blindly along with it. Simmons says you need a guy with an elite skill set, fine I can agree with that, but MKG's elite skill set is not athleticism. He was owned by Barnes in that dept at the combine. Just look at the numbers. I guess you could argue age difference was a factor, but I dunno. Show me some facts to back up the claims.

I'm not saying this was the right pick, but here are a couple of things to consider:
MKG got the better of Barnes every time they were matched up, whether in collegiate games or high school all-star contests.
MKG is the youngest guy in the draft. Keep that in mind when people complain about his jump shot. Jordan, Pippen, Karl Malone were all guys who developed their shots after they came into the league and they came in as juniors and seniors.
The last NBA finals showcased two teams who were stocked with long, fast athletic players. MKG would fit on those teams.
I liked Thomas Robinson a lot and was content with the idea of him at this spot. However, this is not an all-or-nothing draft. This is beginning, in earnest of the rebuild. I would imagine that we'll be looking at another top 5 pick next year, and probably the year after. In that sense, I do really like the fact that we took such a young player - it shows that they are clearly taking the long view.