Kidd-Gilchrist was the second overall pick in the 2012 National Basketball Association Draft by Charlotte and has made major improvements since being drafted so the deal was a no brainer for Charlotte.
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Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is finalizing a four-year, $52 million contract extension with the Charlotte Hornets, multiple sources have confirmed.
The 21-year-old was set to become a restricted free agent after the 2015-16 season. Though they would have the right to match any offer that MKG could sign next summer, being able to control the price themselves before the salary cap jumps is a much more sensible move.
It takes a willingness to get involved in the paint to put up defensive numbers like that, and Kidd-Gilchrist seems to have it given his comments, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com): “I don’t like getting scored on by anyone in the league”. Though it’s still not at an incredible level, it’s improving exponentially as he continues to work on that area of his game.
“Kidd-Gilchrist is a matchup nightmare at 6’7” with the athleticism to blow by slower defenders and the leaping ability to contribute on the boards. This showed when the Hornets went 7-22 in 29 games that Kidd-Gilchrist did not play in last season; 26-27 when Kidd-Gilchrist was in the starting lineup.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is entering the final year of his rookie contract that will be paying him $6.3M this season.
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Kidd-Gilchrist isn’t a finished product or even close to a flawless player. He is a promising young prospect who the Hornets believe in and look to be making him the team’s focal point on and off the court for years to come. The Hornets are securing him long term, as he will be joining Kemba Walker as the team’s cornerstone player for the next few seasons.
