At one point earlier this season the Charlotte Hornets looked like one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. More recently they have been scuffling big time and now find themselves on the outside looking in at the playoff picture in the East. Charlotte is 22-24 and two games back of the Pacers for the eighth spot. The Hornets have won four of their past six games though and may be getting a huge boost very soon as Michael Kidd Gilchrist is close to being cleared for game action, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
Kidd-Gilchrist tore his labrum back in October and had to undergo surgery to repair it. After the surgery was completed Kidd-Gilchrist was given a timetable of about six months and it seemed like the best case scenario for him would be to return for the very end of the season. Now it is looking like Kidd-Gilchrist might be able to return as soon as Friday because he has been upgraded to questionable for Charlotte's tilt against the Trail Blazers, according to Chris Barnewall of SB Nation.
The Hornets had ruled Kidd-Gilchrist out for the season after he had the surgery but as he has gotten further removed from the procedure it became more and more realistic that he would play this season. The fact that Kidd-Gilchrist might be able to return before the All-Star break, when he was ruled out for the season, is a testament to the hard work he has put in to get back on the floor.
There is obviously some risk here because if MKG returns too early he could reinjure the shoulder but his return could be a huge help to the Hornets playoff hopes. Kidd-Gilchrist is the best defender on Charlotte's roster and his game was really starting to round out in the second half of last season. Post All-Star break a year ago MKG averaged 12.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in 33.7 minutes per game.
It is no lock that Kidd-Gilchrist will play on Friday but either way it seems like a return is near. Whenever he does return it is likely a minutes restriction will be attached but the Hornets will take what they can get from him as the shooting guard position has been a struggle for them. P.J. Hairston has started all season because head coach Steve Clifford said he was the best defender the team had available on the wings but he has the worst PER (7.9) on the team. Jeremy Lamb has been good off the bench at the two guard spot but he doesn't do much on defense and is better suited as a scorer off the bench so having MKG back in the starting lineup would certainly be helpful.
