Bobcats keep No. 2 pick, take Kidd-Gilchrist
The net effect of their June 25 trade with the Pistons left the Bobcats with a big hole at small forward. They filled that hole and then some in Thursday's draft, using the No. 2 pick on Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and No. 31 on Vanderbilt's Jeffrey Taylor.
It was a big week in starting the process of fixing a Bobcats team that went a historically worst 7-59 last season. First, the Bobcats swapped Corey Maggette for combo guard Ben Gordon and a future first-round pick. That served two purposes: Gordon's career 41 percent shooting from 3-point range goes far in addressing the Bobcats' league-worst shooting from the arc (29.5 percent). Also, the first-round pick (compensation for taking on $13.2 million next season for Gordon) will be a considerable asset.
The Bobcats considered trading down on draft night and had discussions with both the Cavaliers and Rockets. But general manager Rich Cho said that was just too risky once they locked in on Kidd-Gilchrist as their target.
Kidd-Gilchrist has flaws, particularly a shaky jump shot. But he's a versatile defender and is best offensively in transition -- and Dunlap is determined to play up-tempo going forward.
Taylor will join Gordon in the upgrade of the team's 3-point shooting. He was 42 percent from the college line as a senior at Vanderbilt.
