Hornets to try Kidd-Gilchrist at power forward, Kaminsky at center

During the preseason, the Charlotte Hornets will experiment playing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at power forward and Frank Kaminsky at center, according to a report from Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. 

Kidd-Gilchrist has mostly played at the small forward spot during his six-year career, while Kaminsky has been used as a stretch power forward by the Hornets. Kidd-Gilchrist is 6-foot-7 and widely regarded as Charlotte's best defender. Kaminsky is 7-feet, but has struggled with the mobility to guard power forwards.

The main reason the Hornets are considering moving Kidd-Gilchrist to power forward is because the team has a bevy of small forwards on the roster. Nic Batum, Jeremy Lamb, Malik Monk, Dwayne Bacon and rookie Miles Bridges will all get significant playing time at the wing spot in 2018-19.

In 357 games with the Hornets, Kidd-Gilchrist has averaged 9.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 47.7 percent from the field. The 24-year-old is not a threat from beyond the arc, as he's a career 19.4 percent shooter from three.

Kaminsky’s struggle at the power forward spot has been all the court he has to cover to defend stretch-4s. The hope in playing Kaminsky more at center is he could still play along the perimeter or in the lane offensively, but he’d likely spend less time straying from the lane on defense.

In 235 games with Charlotte, Kaminsky has posted 10.0 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 41.2 percent overall and 34.7 percent from deep. The Hornets parted ways with Dwight Howard this summer, so its center position will likely be erratic all season.

The Hornets will be under new leadership in 2018-19, as the franchise hired James Borrego to replace Steve Clifford.