The Charlotte Hornets received some very bad news earlier this week when they found out that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder and he will undergo surgery. Kidd-Gilchrist is expected to need about six months to recover and it seems very likely that he will miss the entire 2015-16 season. Kidd-Gilchrist was expected to be a big part of the Hornets team this year as they hope to push for a playoff spot and now they will have to try to replace him.
The first name to come to mind to step into the starting lineup is Jeremy Lamb but that doesn't seem like it will happen as head coach Steve Clifford likes the idea of Lamb coming off the bench, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.
Lamb spent his first three NBA seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder where in his first season he didn't get much of any playing time. In his second season Lamb showed how valuable he could truly be as he averaged 8.5 points in 19.7 minutes per game off the bench but last year his minutes went way down again. Lamb was acquired by the Hornets from the Thunder for Luke Ridnour and a second round pick and the Hornets plan to fully utilize him even though it likely won't be in the starting lineup.
"I really like Jeremy Lamb as a first wing sub off the bench because he's versatile; he can score, he can pass and he's got size. If we started him, then we start the roller coaster of a whole lot of guys changing roles. If we moved somebody else into the starting lineup, then everyone else remains in their slots," said Clifford.
With Lamb likely being the sixth man Clifford's options for the other starting wing alongside Nicolas Batum are P.J. Hairston and Marvin Williams. Williams has been mostly a power forward in his career but he has the ability to play the small forward spot. Starting Williams would allow the Hornets to leave Batum at the shooting guard spot they were planning to play him at this season. Hairston is a 6 foot-6 shooting guard who got some time last year as a rookie but wasn't very effective so in order for him to start he will have to show vast improvement.
Kidd-Gilchrist is a huge loss for the Hornets as he is their best wing defender and someone who is improving on offense not to mention the fact that the Hornets were 5-20 without him last season (28-29 with him.) In his absence the Hornets are going to really need other players to step up and although Lamb likely won't start in his place he will have a chance to step in and make a major impact off the bench as his minutes will probably go up.