The Hornets shouldn’t expect any type of “hometown discount” in their negotiations with free agent forward Miles Bridges, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer writes in a mailbag column. Even though Bridges has stated several times that he would like to re-sign with Charlotte, Boone expects him to take the best available offer regardless of which team it comes from.
Boone points out that Bridges is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who encourages his clients to get the maximum possible value in contract talks. Paul advised Bridges to sign his qualifying offer from the Hornets last summer, which has made him unrestricted as he hits the open market after averaging career highs with 21.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season.
Boone points to the Pistons, who will have the most cap space of any team this summer, as a potential suitor for Bridges, meaning the Hornets will have to make a significant offer to bring him back.
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- The Hornets‘ new owners aren’t ready to explore trade opportunities involving LaMelo Ball, Boone adds in the same piece. Injuries have prevented Ball from playing a full NBA season, and the new regime wants to give him a chance to see if he can stay healthy. Boone also points out that Ball’s trade value is low because of his repeated ankle issues, so it’s unlikely that other teams would give up multiple first-rounders in return. Boone doesn’t expect Ball to be traded within the next year.
- Free agent forward Haywood Highsmith prefers to remain in Miami, but he understands that the Heat’s finances might limit their offer, per Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Highsmith, who earned just $1.9MM this season, compared his situation to that of Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, who both signed elsewhere last summer after leading Miami to the NBA Finals. “I can’t make my decision based off of what I like and don’t like. I have to make the decision that’s best for me,” Highsmith said. “Gabe and Max loved it here; I love it here, too. They didn’t end up staying here, so I don’t know what’s to come for me. Nothing’s on the table, so we’ll see. Obviously, I would love to stay in Miami. That’s where my daughter’s at, that’s where my family is at, so I would love to be here, too.”
- The Wizards may have interest in adding Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo to Brian Keefe’s staff, according to Eurohoops.
Rich Paul represents the following NBA free agents or available to trade players
Garland
Miles Bridges
Trade Young
Dejounte Murray
KCP
Rich Paul and Lakers should target these players this month
There is a reason I expect the Lakers to win the championship next season
Copy the AD trade Strategy
What players are any of those teams accepting? Because it’s only via trade.
With what. Scrubs that couldn’t win a ring with the greatest player ever. Future firsts that are bottom 20 in 2027. Lakers are irrelevant and lebron is gone.
So Lakers are irrelevant but their picks are going to be bottom 20’s? Makes a lot of sense
Yes and please get rid of that ridiculous name it sounds like you want it ….badly.
Pot meet kettle
Pistons can only improve via the draft or free agency. Trading their FRP to the Knicks has tied it up until 2028 I believe, it will keep deferring, and until it conveys they can’t make a trade except for draft night. Might be the dumbest trade they’ve done.
I think Bridges reasonably stands to get a 20-25M per year deal based on stats/talent. Are the Pistons going to outbid everyone and give him 30 or more?
Do the Hornets value him at 30M? They gave that to Hayward and he sucked.
I’d say odds wise, I’d say it’s 50/50 Hornets/Pistons. Sixers, Jazz, Magic, and Thunder can all open up cap space to sign him. A S&T candidate could be had.
As far as skills go Hayward never really sucked, it was his availability that was the problem.
Incorrect
Mikal is signed for next 2 yrs. At 24 mill.
I’d say he’s worth more than 30 mill. I’d wait and get my value up. Then sign big contract next yr. Nets will never trade him. He’s Brooklyn Bridges.
I was talking about Miles.
It’s amazing on how both Ball brothers are so injury prone
Maybe the shoes factored into it?
There’s a common denominator…
Not everyone has the Mamba Mentality. You got 15 yrs at best. The body is sacred lol.