Hornets’ Kidd-Gilchrist out indefinitely, has torn labrum

The Heat obviously remain a work in progress after just one preseason game with highs and lows throughout the 48 minutes.

In a press release, the team termed the operation a success. Kidd-Gilchrist is entering his fourth season and has drastically improved in each season, which earned him a huge contract extension. “We’re going to try to play 4-out a lot more”. You can see the play where Kidd-Gilchrist was hurt here. Without him, a few of the questionable moves the Hornets made this summer become even more so.

Kidd-Gilchrist is relied upon to assume a key part for Charlotte in the wake of marking a four-year, $52 million augmentation this offseason.

Kidd-Gilchrist has suffered a dislocated right shoulder Saturday in the first half of a 106-100 preseason victory over the Magic. Kidd-Gilchrist is one of the rare defensive geniuses in the league, capable of ostensibly running point on the defensive end.

Kidd-Gilchrist’s importance can not be overstated for the Hornets.

With Kidd-Gilchrist out, Clifford will have to make over the rotation. With Jefferson in the middle, Charlotte lacks a rim protector.

The Hornets leave for China Wednesday, where they will play two exhibitions against the Los Angeles Clippers in Shenzhen and Shanghai. This in turn allows those same perimeter players to provide help for their bigs on defense. Kidd-Gilchrist is a fantastic rebounder for his position, but, as with everything else he does, his impact on the defensive glass isn’t measured by the numbers he himself accumulates.

Either way, the lineup options for the Hornets are not encouraging. He has to undergo serious rehab and coming back to the floor again might be a challenge for him. Batum is long, but not as strong or athletic.

Barring a player breaking out unexpectedly, the odds of the Charlotte Hornets competing for a playoff spot in the East slips from “maybe” to “probably not”. But it’s a collection of disconnected talents now missing the one guy that holds everything together.

“So many great players have worn those colors and that uniform”, Wilkins told nba.com of his Team US experience.