Charlotte Hornets: Miles Bridges must be retained

After declining the Charlotte Hornets’ offer of a four-year, $60 million contract extension last offseason, Miles Bridges is projected to command a higher number as a restricted free agent this offseason. In a free agent class that lacks star power at the forward position, Bridges is widely regarded as the premier forward on the market. While Bridges’ performance this season certainly warrants a pay increase, there is hesitation from the Hornets on whether he is worthy of a max contract. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Charlotte is hesitant to match a max offer sheet for Bridges.

It is worth mentioning that while rival executives may expect Bridges to receive a max offer, there are only a handful of teams who could offer him at that price. The teams with the most projected cap space this offseason include the Detroit Pistons, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Orlando Magic, the Indiana Pacers, and the San Antonio Spurs. While no possibility should be ruled out, the most likely destinations would appear to be the Pistons or the Trail Blazers. Detroit would offer Bridges a change to return to his home state and play just over an hour away from his hometown of Flint, Michigan. Meanwhile, Portland still has an incumbent star in Damian Lillard, and has reportedly shown interest in Bridges dating back to last season.

Bridges’ value to the Hornets extends beyond his box score contributions, which are clearly valuable in their own right. He has formed a strong bond with franchise point guard LaMelo Ball as the two have created the “Air BnB” tandem for the past two seasons. Bridges is also the longest-tenured player in Charlotte, and his continued development reflects well for a franchise that wants to emphasize drafting and developing their players. While he may not currently be worth a max contract, a deal will need to be reflective of what Bridges will continue to become as a player. Still just 24 years old, Bridges still has room for growth and can be looked at as a long-term piece who will continue to appreciate in value over time.

With the upheaval that has occurred throughout the Hornets organization so far this offseason, retaining Miles Bridges would provide a needed dose of continuity as the team looks to build on their consecutive play-in tournament appearances. For a franchise that historically must overpay for outside free agents, having a homegrown star is a luxury that should not be taken for granted.