The Dallas Mavericks are bringing in wing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on Feb. 11. Here is a look at the news and what he could bring to the team.
The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Utah Jazz on Monday night. The Jazz built a 21-point halftime lead that proved to be too much. The Mavs fought back hard, but fell just short. It was the seventh consecutive game the team played without Luka Doncic.
The Mavericks are still a lock to the make the playoffs. They have faded to seventh in the Western Conference but still sit seven games ahead of ninth. It is an impressive turnaround. The Mavs have 32 wins with one game left before the All-Star break. They won 33 times all of last season.
The Dallas Mavericks are making a move to fortify their roster. See the latest here.
Mavs agree with MKG
Tim MacMahon sent out the following tweet shortly after the Mavs wrapped up their game against the Jazz.
Former Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has agreed to sign with the Mavericks, sources tell @wojespn and me. Dallas has to waive a player to create an open roster spot before making the move official.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 11, 2020
The agreement should come as no surprise. Brad Townsend tweeted the Mavericks were interested in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist before the trade deadline. It was a no-brainer move after he was bought out by the Charlotte Hornets.
The Mavs released forward Ryan Broekhoff to create room for MKG. The sharpshooter tweeted a goodbye to Dallas which fans can see below.
Been a pleasure. Thank you to the dallasmavs for the opportunity. Thank you to the fans for all your support. Thank you coaches who have helped guide me and a special thank you to all my teammates. Enjoyed everyday… https://t.co/bydlMx4300
— Ryan Broekhoff (@RBroekhoff45) February 11, 2020
What MKG brings to Mavs
Kidd-Gilchrist has only played in 12 games this season. He was not part rebuilding Hornets’ nightly rotation. The 26-year-old is known as a stout defender and rebounder.
MKG will another rotation option for Coach Rick Carlisle to utilize especially in the postseason. Throwing out a defensive-minded wing could come in handy when the games get more physical.
Kidd-Gilchrist struggles shooting the ball, though. He is a career 28.0 percent 3-point shooter. MKG also averages just 8.6 points per game for his career.
The Dallas Mavericks adding Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could pay dividends. It is a low-risk move that improves their roster. Keep an eye on how much MKG plays and where he fits into the rotation in Dallas.