Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – photo by Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT
Of all the young players paraded on-stage with NBA Commissioner David Stern on draft night last month, Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the one most suited to join the Lakers, or any other serious contender, and help right away. Given owner Michael Jordan’s track record as a talent evaluator, it’s almost amazing the Charlotte Bobcats took Kidd-Gilchrist second overall, after his NCAA champion teammate Anthony Davis went first to New Orleans. But it was the right spot for Kidd-Gilchrist, who won’t be 19 until September. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who intelligently want to add Pau Gasol’s veteran presence to their young core of players, tried to swap last year’s No. 2 overall pick, tweener forward Derrick Williams, to the Bobcats to get the pick and send it to the Lakers for Gasol.
