After receiving minimal interest on the free agent market, Miles Bridges accepted his qualifying offer from the Charlotte Hornets, making him an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024. After missing the entire 2022-23 NBA season due to legal issues, Bridges will head into the new season hoping to rebuild his value around the league.
Regardless of what happens in the coming months, Bridges will enter the 2024 free agency period expecting to receive a significant pay rise on the $7.9 million he’s set to earn this season. Whether the Hornets will be the team to sanction that pay rise will remain to be seen. However, Bridges has a fearsome partnership with LaMelo Ball and will likely develop on-court chemistry with Brandon Miller throughout the season, too.
When available for selection, Bridges raises the Hornet’s ceiling and, at 25 years old, still has room to improve his game. As such, it’s understandable if you deem Bridges to be an important part of the Hornet’s core. The problem is that other teams around the NBA will likely believe Bridges could be part of their core, too. Or that the Michigan State product could be the missing piece to a puzzle that sees another team become a contender.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at three teams who could potentially try to steal Bridges away from the Charlotte Hornets.
1. The Houston Rockets could steal Miles Bridges from the Hornets
Judging by the way he had the Boston Celtics playing, Ime Udoka likes his teams to play an inside-out brand of basketball. There is a focus on rim pressure and physicality, with every player expected to put in work off the ball.
Miles Bridges could thrive under Udoka and would slot into Houston’s rotation alongside Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson. However, there would be questions regarding Bridges’ fit, as his arrival could dispel Jabari Smith Jr, who enjoyed a solid rookie season with the Western Conference franchise last yet.
Bridges would instantly improve Houston’s interior scoring. During the 2021-22 season, Bridges converted 68% of his shots around the rim, while he’s also flashed upside as a perimeter scorer, hitting 40% of his perimeter looks in 2020-21 – per Cleaning The Glass.
While it’s still too early to predict which teams will have legitimate cap space next summer, it’s safe to assume Houston will be players in the free-agent market, and Bridges could become one of their primary targets.
2. The Utah Jazz could steal Miles Bridges from the Hornets
The Utah Jazz are another team that could potentially have cap space next summer and may also hold an interest in adding Bridges to their roster. Will Hardy has proven himself to be one of the best young coaches in the NBA and may feel that he could help Bridges take his game to the next level – assuming the Hornets forward impresses during the upcoming season.
As a team, the Jazz shot 67.1% around the rim last season – ranking them 11th in the NBA. Yet, Bridges would likely help them climb into the top 10 for rim scoring, which would help generate additional rim pressure and kick-out opportunities for perimeter scoring.
Utah struggled when shooting the three last season and may feel that improving their rim gravity is a way to generate better-uncontested looks around the perimeter moving forward.
After proving himself as one of the best young coaches in the NBA, Will Hardy may feel like he can help the Hornets forward reach a new level and could be tempted to push for Bridges during the 2024 off-season – assuming the forward impresses in a Hornets jersey in the upcoming season and remains out of trouble.
3. The New York Knicks could steal Miles Bridges from the Hornets
Miles Bridges feels like a Tom Thibodeau type of player. Gritty, keen to get downhill, and strong enough to play multiple defensive roles. If Bridges could be sold on accepting a bench role on a team that is flirting with being a borderline contender, then the New York Knicks could be a logical landing spot for him next summer – if he doesn’t remain with the Charlotte Hornets, of course.
Last season, the Knicks ranked fourth in shooting percentage around the rim and 13th in shot frequency within four feet of the bucket. That type of execution and shot profile fits Bridges’ game and could convince him that he would have a legitimate role within the Knicks rotation. Also, the allure of playing in one of the league’s biggest markets, and helping a sleeping giant return to its place among the elite, could be a significant draw for a hungry player that’s eager to prove himself.
Thibodeau is a no-nonsense coach, though. As such, Bridges would need to prove that his missteps are behind him and that his sole focus is on basketball. A full season with the Hornets, where Bridges impresses with his undeniable scoring and defensive potential, should do enough to ensure interested teams are willing to take a chance on him.
Of course, the Hornets will likely be in the mix to keep Bridges around long-term, but they’ve done themselves no favors by allowing the forward to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, even if their decision is understandable.