Hornets coach Steve Clifford said that Batum is penciled in to start at shooting guard this season, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports.

Hornets coach Steve Clifford said that Batum is penciled in to start at shooting guard this season, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports.

Analysis:

Batum offers the ability to play at either wing spot, but the Hornets appear inclined to deploy their offseason acquisition at guard, leaving defensive maven Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to play small forward and match up against the opposition's top swingman. The Frenchman saw his all-around numbers tumble last season while missing 11 games due to a surfeit of injuries, but the Hornets appear optimistic that an offseason of full health can revitalize his production. Batum's greatest challenge will be demonstrating that he can still be an effective marksman, after shooting a career-low 40 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from three-point land.