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Charlotte Hornets 2021-22 preview: Miles Bridges

By Dylan Jackson

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket against the Miami Heat during a preseason game at FTX Arena on October 11, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket against the Miami Heat during a preseason game at FTX Arena on October 11, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Miles Bridges is going to be the x-factor for the Charlotte Hornets this season – there’s a lot that hinges on how well he performs, and the general manager Mitch Kupchak knows it.

Charlotte Hornets 2021-22 preview: Miles Bridges

Towards the end of last season, the potential that Miles Bridges put on display was downright exciting. From April 2nd to May 2nd, Bridges averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds, and two assists per game on shooting splits of 53/46/82 (17 games). Additionally, over the course of the entirety of last season, Bridges was only a few made free throws away from having a 50/40/90 season – albeit on much lower volume than some of the superstars that have achieved that mark in the past.

The ceiling is the roof for Miles Bridges – especially alongside a player like LaMelo Ball. He will be inserted into the starting lineup this season, and could grow even more than what he showed in 2020-21.

There’s a lot more that hinges on Miles Bridges’s play than the Hornets overall performance this season, though. The rookie contract extension deadline came and went without a deal in place for Bridges – and his peers got paid a tremendous amount of money.

If Bridges can play as he displayed last year, he could be in line for a massive amount of money – and could very well be worth it with his valuable skill set being utilized in a unique way on the Charlotte Hornets.

This year, Bridges starts out as the Hornets’ fourth-best rostered player – behind LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Terry Rozier. With that said, though, there’s an outside chance he is good enough to be considered a co-star for LaMelo Ball – and one of our contributors at Swarm & Sting actually picked Bridgies to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

Look, I’m not going to give you stat projections or anything similar to that for Miles Bridges. But it would be an understatement to say that a lot rides on this season – for money reasons, playoff reasons, future planning reasons, etc.

Next. Charlotte Hornets preview: Gordon Hayward. dark

I’ll leave you by saying this: The Charlotte Hornets haven’t had much luck in their history. They’ve passed on selecting superstars in the draft, lost their franchise star several times, and even lost the entire damn basketball team once. BUT – Miles Bridges represents a positive unknown as someone that has the potential to become a true, young second option – and that isn’t something the Hornets have had in quite some time.

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