JULY 14: Bridges officially signed his deal to return to Charlotte, the Hornets announced (Twitter link).
JULY 6: The Hornets are re-signing free agent forward Miles Bridges, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). According to Adrian Wojnarowksi of ESPN (Twitter links), Bridges’ new deal will be worth $75MM over three years and won’t include a team or player option.
After accepting his one-year, $7.9MM qualifying offer as a restricted free agent last summer, Bridges averaged 21.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 69 games for the Hornets last season, posting a shooting line of .462/.349/.825. His contract gave him veto rights on any trade and he told the team in February that he intended to exercise those rights rather than approve a deal elsewhere.
While that stance was partly about not wanting to lose his Bird rights, Bridges also repeatedly expressed a desire to remain in Charlotte, and that interest was reciprocated by the Hornets’ front office, led by new head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson. The two sides have made good on those public comments by agreeing to terms nearly a week into free agency.
Bridges’ scoring ability, size, and versatility are ideal for an NBA forward, but his market in free agency was almost certainly affected by his off-court history, which includes multiple allegations of domestic violence.
Facing three felony charges after being accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend in front of their two children, Bridges entered a plea of no contest — accepting punishment without formally admitting guilt — to one felony count of injuring a child’s parent in November 2022.
The Hornets forward received three years probation and no jail time as part of the plea deal, which led to a 30-game suspension from the NBA (he was permitted to serve just 10 games of that suspension because he spent the entire 2022/23 season out of the league while his case played out). He subsequently faced three additional criminal counts related to a separate incident, but those were dismissed this February due to insufficient evidence.
Charlotte has been keeping Bridges’ $15MM cap hold on its books during the early part of free agency. The club will use up all of its cap room on other deals before going over the cap to re-sign Bridges using his Bird rights.
$25 million for a guy who likes to beat women. Incredible world we live in….
+ he stunk last year, it’s not like he even had a career year. He had 2.2 win shares while averaging 37 mins a game…yikes…
He averaged 21 PPG/7 RPG last year. I’d hardly call that “stunk”
wrong, that stinks if he brings nothing else to the table, especially defensively + playing 37 MPG, he would be averaging more than 21 if he was an average scorer. He stinks.
Christian Wood could put up better numbers with great percentages while shooting 40% from deep and yet he can’t get more than a min contract.
Not saying Bridges is anywhere near that bad, but popcorn numbers are relatively meaningless.
From a basketball perspective it’s a steal!
Its not even that! He’s at most a $15M a year talent. This is a massive overpay for an overrated, violent headcase.
I mean he is teammates with a guy who drive his car with a gun in it to a friend who used it to kill a lady.
Don’t forget Melo running over children in a car he doesn’t know how to drive!
Great start for the new ownership and front office. /s
KP getting $30m
He is worth 3 years $100 million
Now it’s Lakers and Heat turn to get him at TD
Lakers and Heat have nice gesture every day
What the hell does this mean???
Translation:
Silivan is one of those people who stick up for violent head cases because it draws attention…
Most people on here are convinced it’s an AI account being tested to see how silly comments get reactions…
Hornets did the right thing. Bridges worked with them. He is talented. Play better and he either becomes part of rebuild. Or he can be moved. Was the right move for Hornets.
Employing a convicted felon who pled no contest to domestic assault is the right thing?
I vehemently disagree with the idea that the Hornets did the “right” thing. They did the cowardly thing. They shouldn’t have offered Bridges a single cent. It takes a certain level of courage to stand up and say: “It doesn’t matter if he can score, we want better people in our locker room.” The decision makers in Charlotte clearly didn’t have the spine to do that.
Terrible decisions for their culture and ability to draw family focused stars…
The fact they overpaid for his skillset is a minor concern…
If he stays out of trouble this is a fantastic deal for the Hornets
We’re they bidding with anyone tho?
Not one team that cares about their culture…
He stayed due to loyalty I guess. Hope he stays out of trouble.
Horrible move new management made. All you have to do is find a young SG prospect. Smith Jr and something. Dumb hornets
Felony level woman beater.
Disgusting move…
And an overpay…
New owners in Charlotte already showing their colours…
Wrf. He should be banned. Children watch this game. This is bigger than talent. This is about what is acceptable for a society to hold up as a role model. Children are going to root for this man and then later find out what this man did. This is NOT okay.