Every year some players cash in as free agents in the NBA. One of the players that will be looking to do so this offseason is Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets.
Bridges picked a perfect time to have the best season of his career. He bet on himself before things got started, turning down a deal that was reportedly a four-year offer worth about $60 million. He won that bet, as he could earn double that this offseason.
The No. 12 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Bridges is heading into restricted free agency after an extension was unable to be agreed upon. He put up career-highs across the board, taking full advantage of his expanded role.
Bridges looks to be a key building block in Charlotte, but they are going to have to pay up to keep him. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, a paid subscription publication, it is not a sure thing that the Hornets will match any offer sheet that he signs.
“Rival executives expect Hornets restricted free agent Miles Bridges to command a maximum — or near-max — deal in July, and sources said there’s hesitancy from Charlotte to match a max sheet. Bridges had a breakout season in 2021-22, averaging 20.2 points, seven rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. In a league that saw wings such as Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins and Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have game-changing impacts on a run to the NBA Finals, Bridges’ two-way ability on the wing has become incredibly valued toward winning.”
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It would be a bit shocking if Charlotte opted against matching an offer sheet that Bridges signs. He is one of the building blocks of the franchise, along with LaMelo Ball. But, the Hornets are facing a bit of a money crunch.
If they are unable to find a new home for Gordon Hayward or move off of the long-term contract extension that Terry Rozier signed last year, they could be hard-pressed to retain Bridges. Going over the cap and potentially paying the luxury tax for a roster that has been blown out of the water in the NBA Play-In Tournament both years of its existence is something they would like to avoid.
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One thing working in the Charlotte Hornets’ favor is that there aren’t many franchises projected to have max cap space to sign Miles Bridges with. That could open the door to sign-and-trade scenarios, but Charlotte would likely be better off retaining him and building off of the chemistry that has been developing the last two seasons.
