The Dallas Mavericks could see some value in a forgotten man.
Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reported on Friday that Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is among the possibilities for Dallas ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Bonnell says that the Mavs want another defender for the playoffs but that discussions have not progressed beyond a “kicking tires” level.
Kidd-Gichrist, the former No. 2 overall pick, has fallen almost completely out of the rotation in Charlotte, making just 12 appearances and averaging 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game. He is owed $13 million this season and will be a free agent in the summer.
The 29-18 Mavs, meanwhile, have risen to the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference thanks to their elite offense compensating for a below-average defense. Kidd-Gilchrist would be a reclamation project but one perhaps worth undertaking, especially with Dallas in need of short-term reinforcements.
