The Charlotte Hornets must match any offer for Miles Bridges and bring him back in 2022-23.
Once again, the Charlotte Hornets will be sitting at home throughout the NBA Playoffs after their season came to an end in the NBA play-in game on Wednesday night for the second-straight year.
While the loss last season could be contributed to the team being young and on the rise, this year’s defeat stung much more due to the 10-win year-to-year improvement Charlotte made this season.
With the season now over, some big decisions will have to be made, especially if the team wants to finally end its playoff drought.
Thankfully, All-Star LaMelo Ball is only entering year three and is still under team control. There are, however, still major questions that needed to be addressed with the roster.
The biggest question that needs to be answered is whether forward Miles Bridges should be brought back on a long-term deal.
This season, Bridges was one of the league’s most improved players, averaging 20.2 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per game, all of which were career-high marks.
After declining a qualifying offer last from the Hornets last offseason, Bridges is now a restricted free agent, meaning Charlotte can match any offer sheet he is given.
And they should do just that.
Drafted 12th overall in 2018 before immediately being traded to the Hornets, Bridges has steadily improved each season before his big jump this year, and he’s made it known that he’d prefer to stay in Charlotte.
The 24-year-old is now the longest-tenured player on the roster.
Reports say he will be looking for a max five-year deal worth around $173 million.
That number would give him the 18th largest contract in the NBA, according to Spotrac.
Bridges still has plenty of flaws in his game, including his 3-point shooting and overall defense, but with how he’s improved every year and the connection he’s built with his teammates, the Hornets shouldn’t think twice about matching an offer.
If Bridges were to leave town, not only would Charlotte get worst offensively, but they’d lose one of their locker room leaders and most recognizable players.
It could also hurt the Hornets chances to re-sign Ball in the future, and the last thing they’d want is another rebuild.
The money is a lot but with how the league is trending, the deal could end up being a bargain if the salary cap keeps rising and contracts get larger. With Gordon Hayward‘s contract on the books for another two seasons, paying Bridges will be a difficult pill to swallow.
In comparison, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was traded for Bridges on draft night, received a five-year, $172 million deal last year.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a great player, and Bridges has proven to be just as good with his leap this season.
Hornets fans are starving for success, and that long-sought success will come much sooner if Bridges sticks around.