Since finishing last season in the lottery, the Charlotte Hornets have worked for the past six months to get back to the playoffs in 2015-16. Now, one awkward moment could undo all that work.
In Friday's preseason opener, Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist dislocated his right shoulder. On Monday, Yahoo! Sports reported that Kidd-Gilchrist will need surgery that would sideline him six months, which could keep him out the entire regular season. Without Kidd-Gilchrist in the lineup as a defensive linchpin, the odds that Charlotte will reach the postseason drop dramatically.