Prior to signing his $7.9MM qualifying offer, Miles Bridges was seeking around $25MM per year in talks with the Hornets, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. However, Charlotte was unwilling to approach that figure, which is why Bridges’ representatives quickly opted for unrestricted free agency in 2024.
Bridges was ineligible to be included in a sign-and-trade because he wasn’t on the team’s roster last season, having missed all of 2022/23 after facing a felony domestic violence charge. He agreed to a plea deal and was subsequently suspended by the NBA, who will require him to sit out the first 10 games of ’23/24.
Prior to that incident, Bridges was viewed as one of the top free agents of the 2022 class, having averaged 20.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 3.8 APG on 49.1% shooting in 80 games (35.5 MPG) in ’21/22. There was talk of him receiving $30MM annually in an offer sheet last year, according to Fischer, with the Pacers, Pistons and Grizzlies all linked to the 25-year-old forward.
Here’s more from Fischer’s latest story for Yahoo Sports:
- Hornets restricted free agent forward P.J. Washington might have to wait a while in order to find the type of contract he’s seeking, and it might have to come via sign-and-trade. Marc Stein first reported that the former first-round pick is seeking around $18MM annually. According to Fischer, Washington is looking for $80MM over four years. Fischer writes that several agents seem to be pointing to Keldon Johnson‘s rookie scale extension with the Spurs as a benchmark of sorts in negotiations.
- The Pelicans continue to gauge the trade market for reserve guard Kira Lewis Jr. and starting center Jonas Valanciunas, sources tell Fischer. Lewis is entering the final year of his rookie scale contract and could become a restricted free agent next summer, while Valanciunas’ $15.4MM deal is expiring.
- Fischer hears the recent conversations between the Hawks and Raptors haven’t been very productive when it comes to a potential Pascal Siakam deal. On an unrelated note, Fischer also reports there’s optimism within Atlanta’s organization that the team will be able to extend Dejounte Murray.
- The Raptors have expressed interest in Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, Fischer reports. However, it’s unclear if they’ll try to make a run at the restricted free agent via an offer sheet or sign-and-trade.
- Like other reporters, Fischer has heard there’s mutual interest in a reunion between the Sixers and restricted free agent big man Paul Reed.
Raptors should pull the trigger on a Murray deal.
They can land Murray, and fleece the Hawks for some other asset… A.J. Griffin? Picks?
How do the hawks do a pascal trade has to be for Murray or Trae and if there’s reports the hawks feel good about a Murray extension does that mean Trae for Pascal??
Trae for Pascal
ATL
Murray Bufkin Hunter Pascal Capela
Bogi Griffin Bey Johnson Okungwu
Toronto
Young GTJ Barnes OG Poeltl
Schroder D1ck Otto Thad Boucher
I actually like this move for both sides.
Atl being mid for a while now and although that’s not at all Traes fault they just need to do something to try liven up this team. Pascal is an underrated star, one of the best at his position and would be a great fit. ATL would be this really really good defensive team lead by Murray and Pascal. On the bench they have a bunch of young wings and forwards that are all hungry for minutes.
Toronto on the other hand have 3 good forwards for only 2 starting spots. Pascal being on the expelling deal, being the oldest and clearly apart of the previous era with FVV it’s just time to move on. They look like they are going in the direction of going younger and starting over but what to remain competitive and contend soon. I think Trae is an excellent fit with Scottie. He can play off ball and space the floor and let Scottie drive the lane or Trae can handle the rock and do his thing with Scottie being his go to option. Either way his lack of defence is also well covered with OG. I like the potential of Gradey and Trae both being shooters to pair with Scottie.
Man you should never take Vivarin with your coffee.
I’m sick of these stupid little comments.
Like if you’ve got something to say then say it. Disagree or agree but actually use your brain to actually say something constructive. Most of what I say I back it up with a little explanation or use stats and facts. I don’t expect most to agree with me and I actually like to be shown other perspectives. All I’m saying is if you Don’t like it either jog on or actually type something more that 15 or so words long …
I’m tired of these keyboard haters too
I think now that Atlanta has moved Collins I think they owe it to themselves to see how that move plays out. They have Capela, Okongwu and Johnson to man the 4-5 spots. If anything they need to figure out the wings. They have Hunter and Murray who I imagine will start. They just drafted Bufkin, Griffin showed a lot of promise last season as a rookie, Bey in a small sample size showed he may have potential and Bogdonovic is a known to be solid. That’s 6 guys to man 2 wing spots with Hunter being able to play the 4 in small ball lineups. They should move 1-2 of these guys.
I’m not going too far in the Raptors other than to say that so far Barnes while being a stud on defense and a good passer hasn’t shown much in the scoring department and without VanVleet they’re going to need Siakim for his playmaking skills along with his scoring as Shröeder is a score first PG.
If I were Atlanta I would not consider due to prime equity. Siakim is older, under contract for less time and doesn’t have the impact trajectory of Young. He plays better defense of course but Young has been the better player for longer and is nearly 5 years younger. I don’t see Atlanta making a trade of young unless they’re getting a top 15 player in return.
As for bridges I really hope some team makes a trade for him at some stage.
It’s clear Hornets aren’t going to give him his money, they are now holding out on PJ. They also just drafted Miller and will give him time and Bridges still has a small suspension.
He’s got the perfect size deal for a contender to match salary wise, hornets would easily get back a first round pick for him.
Then on whoever trades for him your getting a 25/26 year old forward who plays both ends, can shoot, can drive, can pass and defends well. If you don’t like him then don’t pay him if you like him then any extension likely won’t come at an insane cost.
Miami could use Herro in a package for Rozier and Bridges…
Ben Simmons for Rozier and Bridges ???
Detroit has a bunch of young bigs on offer if Bridges wants to return home ….
Indy’s been wanting a forward/wing all offseason
I’d love him on my Sixers somehow…
If I’m the Mavs I’d give up Green or Hardy in a potential deal … THJ and Green and McGee for Rozier and Bridges ….
Even Minnesota would be great spot with ANT and McDaniels
See my reply above x2
Don’t get me wrong, at times I’m a snarky, sarcastic troll but I only do so to point out blatant stupidity. Most of the time I give my opinion about the subject at hand.
I may not always agree with Simmons<Russ but unlike Noneed he actually brings up stuff about basketball.
Agreed I don’t expect everyone to agree with me nor do I expect everyone to reply or comment back.
But that said this page is about basketball and there’s waaay to many people just saying stuff to say stuff.
Clearly dude hasn’t been around here long
Idk if Bridges is likely getting moved until the trade deadline, and he gets further removed from his suspension.
Personally, I think the Hornets would be dumb to move him, because a team lead by Ball, B.Miller, Bridges, PJ, and Hayward would be a very strong and solid core moving forward, and plus they’ll also have young and improving players like Bouknight, Nnaji, Smith Jr., and Richards to help fill-in and supplement their core.
If they move on from Bridges and PJ, they won’t get fair value, and instead of adding to their team, they’ll just be hoping that their younger players can replace the new holes they just created.
Maybe you don’t overpay for PJ, but there wouldn’t be any way I’d let go of Bridges. When he was last playing he was quickly becoming an impact star, and him and Ball were primetime attractions and fun to watch.
It is Charlotte, so I will not be the least bit surprised when they find some way to mess it all up…
Ball just got the max. PJ needs an extension, Bridges and Hayward will both need extensions end of the season and your going to pay all these guys for what? One game in the play in tournament??
It doesn’t make sense to keep all these guys, pay them and then just fingers crossed they all get better and suddenly it works. I think a lot of those guys are good but they need to all come together and prove it on the court and that hasn’t happened.
Their core as of right now is Ball and Miller, those guys are signed up long term and are high draft picks the rest are all moveable at the right price.
Very out of the box idea which goes against everything that I’ve said above but I’d they were to just trim the fat and got for a big name to add to their core then I think Karl Anthony-Towns could be a good trade to make.
KAT for Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, Cody Martin and a first round pick
Now KAT isn’t the best fit for Charlotte in my opinion but if the price is right I think you make the deal and then try to make it work. I think he opens up the floor for your strong slashing forwards you have and him and Ball could have a really good 2 man game but they’d be woeful defensively.
It certainly leaves a hole at SG, I’d suggest try to find a third team or make a seperate deal to get someone in.
As for Minny I love this deal for them.
Rozier is a great partner to ANT. Can play on or off the ball, had a great handle, can shoot it and can defend when you need him too. Bridges would also be a great fit pairing McDaniels at the forward spot. Again plays both ends and can give you 20 points a night.
Then Gobert locks it all down for you at centre. Defensively this team would be crazy and offensively it’s tough with guys like Rozier ANT and Bridges. Off the bench your led by Mike Conley and Naz Reid but there’s a bunch of 3 and D style forwards and wings in Cody Martin, Kyle Anderson, Troy Brown Jr and Leonard Miller. Outside of them you also have Shake Milton, Nowell, McLaughlin, NAW, Wendell Moore and so on.
Yes you might be thinking you could trade KAT and get another star but I’d be telling myself Bridges is that star, low key. The fact you settle for him and can add Rozier, Martin and a first it’s actually a great package.
“Bridges and Hayward will both need extensions end of the season and your going to pay all these guys for what?”
Dude, you need to switch to decaf and maybe watch a few of the teams you won’t shutup about. Talking about a Hayward extension like he’ll be getting a long term high money deal is laughable
Hayward surely isn’t getting extended, Simmons. I can almost guarantee you there is zero percent chance of that. He’d probably be gone already if it wouldn’t have been for the fact that it’d be more costly to dump him than to just pay him. He hasn’t been bad when he plays, he just barely ever plays; plus MJ overpaid him, which puts the Hornets in a bind.
That said, I don’t hate the idea of Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, Cody Martin and a first round pick for KAT from a Charlotte fan’s side. I’d probably want to see the pick with some type of protection on it; but I’d be happy to dump Bridges and get something for him. He’s already signaling he’s going to bounce anyway because (to no one’s surprise but his and his agent’s) he didn’t get a bag of money for being an idiot.
I can’t see Minnesota doing that deal, however.
You might want to reconsider the Brandon Miller part of that equation. He has been a hot mess in Summer League.
Miller has 10 turnovers and 15 fouls in 2 games. Did nothing offensively in either game until the last 2 minutes of each game with his team down 20.
Completely lost defensively. Offensively, soft touch and deep range on his jumper, but he never gets open to shoot. He has been “The Invisible Man” on the floor. His drives to the hole have not had any polish. Very rough.
He looks like a guy who is just gonna be hanging out the arc jacking up three’s.
Miller had 18 points, five rebounds and three assists in his second game; which is right about what he averaged in college. Those aren’t bad numbers. He struggled in the first half with fouls and turnovers but he did show improvement in the second half in those areas. He’s going to be fine, and playing with LaMelo is only going to help him because everything won’t be on him.
Hornets will regret not drafting Scoot. Try a year of him and Ball. We will never know now. MJ will never be considered a good executive or owner. He failed all Hornet fans.
I think the Hornets made the right decision and I’m happy with the selection. Henderson has his weak points too, and he isn’t the type of prospect where the talent disparity was so great that you say the fit doesn’t matter.
Miller is going to be okay and he’ll play well, just give him some time to acclimate.
Miller has a lot to overcome. Pretty much any fanatic who knows exactly what he did is going to heckle him for atleast 2 seasons if he is on extra good behavior.
Miller has a lot to overcome personally to move forward past the murder he participated in also.
That distraction alone would have prompted me to draft Scoot in front of Miller.
And the fact that Bridges was ineligible for a S&T because he sat out all of last season, so the Hornets have to sign him to extract any value. Making Miller insignificant, and unnecessary.
Miller is not going to outplay Bridges for the playing time, that’s for sure.
I’m not saying Miller will for sure outplay Bridges, but I don’t see it as out of the realm of possibility. Bridges will not have played competitive basketball for about a year and a half when he does come back; and I don’t know that it won’t take him some time to find a groove. There’s also nothing to yet prove that he didn’t just have a career year before he was suspended.
If the Hornets have Hayward healthy and PJ Washington… Why would they play Bridges at all?
It’d be smarter for them to try make Hayward look like a trade piece and have Bridges value lowered by not playing…
It’s not like they are going to the playoffs…
Celtics aren’t in the Central