With Kidd-Gilchrist, Hope for the Bobcats If there was a silver lining to the Charlotte Bobcats' seven-win season a year ago, it had to be the odds of landing Anthony Davis with the draft's No. 1 pick. Sadly, and true to luckless form, the Bobcats were leapfrogged in the lottery by the New Orleans Hornets and missed out on the once-in-a-generation player, receiving instead the No. 2 pick and selecting swingman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Davis' teammate at Kentucky. But as far as consolation prizes go, you'd be hard-pressed to find a player with more two-way upside than "MKG." The numbers are already beginning to reveal as much: through the first five games, Kidd-Gilchrist is averaging 14.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per 36 minutes, and appears well on his way to inclusion on the All-Rookie First Team. Even more impressive, perhaps, has been the seamlessness with which Kidd Gilchrist's rim-attacking instincts have carried over to the N.B.A.; he's already racked up 14 offensive rebounds (the same number as LeBron James and Brandon Bass), and has taken an astounding 79 percent of his shots from within five feet or less of the rim, according to stats provided by NBA.com. Not yet known as a reliable jump shooter, Kidd-Gilchrist seems more than willing to stay in his offensive lane, as evidenced by his avoidance of mid-range shots (he's taken exactly two from 5-14 feet) in lieu of quick hits off of cuts, put-backs, and free throws, the last of which he is shooting at the second-highest clip (4.2 per game) among rookies. These have been an impressive first five games for the high-energy 19-year-old - a stretch culminating in a 25-point, 12-rebound, two-block, and one-steal performance in a win over the Mavericks Saturday night. To be sure, it's a start that would have attracted more attention had it not been for the equally incendiary performances of the aforementioned Davis, Cleveland's Dion Waiters, and Portland point-wizard Damian Lillard, all of whom have provided substantial support for the contention that this year's draft class has more potential greatness than any in recent memory. But Charlotte's encouraging performance has hardly been attributable to Kidd-Gilchrist alone. Following a disappointingly ineffective rookie season, Kemba Walker has shown early signs of a significant leap, with many per-36 metrics - points (19.8), assists (6.1), steals (2.9), and shooting percentage (43.2 percent) included - up from his rookie year. There's no doubt that Walker's journey from collegiate wrecking ball to reliable floor general remains a work in progress, as does his outside shooting (he's connecting on just 10 percent of his 3-point attempts thus far), but already the signs of maturation and increased confidence are apparent. Credit new Coach Mike Dunlap -- hired over the summer after a number of high-profile stints at the collegiate level -- for installing an offense designed to get the most out of the athleticism of Charlotte's starting unit. After finishing at or near the bottom in too many offensive categories to count a year ago (and dead last in terms of efficiency), the Bobcats currently rank seventh in offensive rating at 103. Key to this has been Charlotte's prowess on the offensive glass, where they're second in the league in both offensive rebounds (15.2 per game) and second-chance points (16.8), both of which hold true even when adjusted for pace. Their 30th-ranked defense - again, they finished at the bottom last year - still has some catching up to do, but even here the Bobcats are beginning to forge something of an identity, one built on converting lane-hawking opportunities on the wings (they were eighth in steals and 12th in forcing turnovers through Sunday) as efficiently as possible at the other end. Those looking for a stunning turnaround in Charlotte would be wise to recall that the Bobcats began last season 2-4, before a series of epic losing streaks - culminating in an N.B.A. record-setting 23 consecutive losses down the stretch - put them forever in the conversation as one of the worst professional teams of all time. But even if the season ends - as most believe it will - in the all-too-familiar bushel of lottery ping-pong balls, the rapid development of Walker and Kidd-Gilchrist could give the struggling franchise something that has up to this point been wholly unfamiliar: a solid foundation.