Miles Bridges is an unrestricted free agent. He will likely have significant interest from around the NBA after a strong season with the Charlotte Hornets.
In the 69 games he played, he averaged 21 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 46.2% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range.
The Hornets hold Bridges’ bird rights. As such, they likely lead the race for his services. Nevertheless, Bridges will likely explore his market before deciding on his next steps.
During a recent news conference, Charlotte’s executive VP of basketball operations, Jeff Peterson, noted his wish to keep Bridges on the roster.
“Yeah, I think the new CBA rule is ultimately a positive,” Peterson said, according to the Charlotte Observer’s Roderick Boone. “I don’t want to get into any individual negotiations that I’ve had. I’ve made it very clear to Miles that we want him to remain as a Hornet.”
The Hornets are a rebuilding team. They have undergone some changes behind the scenes over the past 12 months. There is a new ownership group, a new front office, and Charles Lee will be stepping into the head coaching role.
Charlotte is clearly building for the future and looking to do it the right way. Bridges, 26, is young enough to sustain the rebuilding years in Charlotte if he believes in the project he’s being sold.
Lee is a new-style coach. He will bring fresh ideas and systems with him. The Hornets’ young core is already in place. Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball are the two crown jewels of the franchise. Grant Williams thrived as a leader after being traded to the Hornets midway through the season.
If Charlotte can retain Bridges, it may have enough talent on the roster to appear in the play-in tournament. For a team that has struggled for relevancy over the last decade, the fanbase would welcome any sign of growth.
Of course, the Hornets’ chances of making an impression next season are much higher with Bridges in the rotation. Charlotte must keep him if it wishes to keep moving forward. It stuck by him during his legal issues and gave him a second chance once he was cleared to return to the NBA.
Now, Bridges will likely repay that faith by re-signing with the franchise. Then, Lee and his coaching staff can finally work on reshaping the team and building a respectable rotation.