Charlotte Hornets' free agent forward, Miles Bridges, has reached an agreement on a lucrative three-year, $75 million contract to stay with the team, as reported by sources to ESPN. The deal was finalized after Bridges' agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, negotiated with the Hornets' executive VP of basketball operations, Jeff Peterson.
Bridges, aged 26, considered various sign-and-trade options but ultimately opted to remain with the Hornets, joining a core group that includes All-Star guard LaMelo Ball and second-year forward Brandon Miller. Despite facing challenges in the past, including missing the entire 2022-2023 season due to legal issues and serving a suspension at the start of the 2023-2024 season, Bridges made a remarkable comeback to become one of the Hornets' key contributors.
Last season, Bridges showcased his talent by averaging 21 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Notably, he achieved a rare feat of scoring consecutive 40-point games in early February, a milestone only achieved by three other players in franchise history.
The Hornets have been proactive in strengthening their roster this offseason, with Peterson making strategic moves to balance competitiveness and future asset accumulation. In addition to retaining Bridges, the team acquired forward Josh Green from the Dallas Mavericks, a 23-year-old starter, and secured four future second-round draft picks through various transactions.
With the addition of Bridges on a multi-year deal and the roster enhancements made by Peterson, the Hornets are poised to continue their upward trajectory in the upcoming NBA season. The team still retains the flexibility of utilizing a room midlevel exception, further bolstering their depth and competitiveness.
