Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has surgery as player option decision nears

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has gone under the knife, but it sounds like he’ll be fully recovered in time for next season.

The Charlotte Hornets have announced that Kidd-Gilchrist underwent a successful surgical procedure to address a chronic groin strain. He is expected to make a full recovery and be available for the start of the team’s training camp in September.

Kidd-Gilchrist appeared in 64 games (three starts) during the 2018-19 season and averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game. In his seven-year career with Charlotte, he has averaged 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 421 games (356 starts).

The former Kentucky Wildcats star is entering a contract year when the 2019-20 season begins, so he needs to show a lot more if he wants to get another big contract. He signed a four-year, $52 million contract in 2016 that does include a player option for this upcoming season, but it’s hard to see him not opting in between his so-so season and now having to recover from surgery.

Option decisions are due by the end of the day on June 29 unless a player’s contract specifically calls for an earlier deadline