Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford is still fully committed to small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. According to the Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell, Clifford went out of his way to state that Kidd-Gilchrist is still a starter despite his poor shooting. He also thinks that Kidd-Gilchrist can be a top 10 defender in the league this upcoming season.

“MKG – everybody wants to know – he'll start and I think he'll have a great year,” Clifford said at a luncheon with media regularly covering the Hornets.

“Spacing is the basic tenant of offensive basketball,” Clifford said, acknowledging Kidd-Gilchrist's limited shooting range. “But it's not as important as competitiveness, it's not as important as character, and it's not as important as natural talent.

“He is a natural athlete. He has a feel for the game, he's a tough guy who cares about the team, and I think he can be one of the top 10 defenders in the league this year.”

Kidd-Gilchrist, who was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2012 draft by Charlotte, started 81 games for the Hornets last season, averaging 9.2 points and 7.0 rebounds. But five years into his NBA career, he still hasn’t been able to shoot a lick. He has attempted just 34 three-pointers over his career, hitting seven. In a league that has increasingly valued spacing, Kidd-Gilchrist has been a major liability on the offensive end.

At least Michael Kidd-Gilchrist delivered in terms of his defensive ability and other intangibles, which are apparently good enough for Clifford. With his combination of size, strength, and athleticism, the former Kentucky standout is capable of defending multiple positions well. He's also widely regarded as a hard worker and gives full effort whenever he plays.

Steve Clifford’s expectations for Kidd-Gilchrist to be a top-10 defender are lofty, but he certainly has the natural ability to live up to them.