The coming offseason will no doubt be crucial for the Charlotte Hornets. Barring any miracle, they are on their way to a third consecutive season of losing more than 33 percent of their games. Frustration is definitely mounting among some fans, although some of them are likely optimistic, given that there is a pathway for Charlotte to escape the NBA's bottom tier.
The team has to accept that its current roster just doesn't have enough juice to make it competitive. There are holes at various positions, and there's no way to plug all of them with just a few moves.
First of all, the Hornets' scouts should be busy, especially with March Madness around the corner, as the 2025 draft can be a great source of reinforcement for the squad. Of course, the hope is that the team will end up with a top pick, but the ping-pong balls haven't always favored Charlotte. So, it has to be prepared to drop in the draft order.
In addition, the Hornets should probably be active in the trade market and free agency, although, as it stands, they don't have enough cap space to make multiple groundbreaking signings. There have been talks of the franchise plotting to trade one of its best players in the summer, but it might have to think it through, especially based on his recent performances.
Miles Bridges is currently Charlotte's best player
Due to the descending nature of his contract and perhaps his off-court baggage, Miles Bridges has been rumored as a potential trade candidate this summer. However, his production since recovering from a bone bruise in his right knee has been praiseworthy.
Bridges missed 10 consecutive matches from late November to early December. Since coming back, he has put up 22.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per contest, scoring in single digits just twice. He even had a statement game on Friday, rattling off a career-high 46 points and nearly steering the Hornets to an upset win over the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
For his encore, the 26-year-old pro led Charlotte in scoring with 26 points on Saturday as the squad snapped a nine-game losing streak versus the Brooklyn Nets. He also added 12 rebounds and continued to show his improvement as a playmaker by dishing out five assists.
It's worth noting that Bridges' defense has significantly improved this season, displaying his capability of becoming a two-way player for the Hornets. The question, though, is how long he will stay with the organization.
Should the front office give up on arguably its most consistent player in the 2024-25 campaign? Some believe it's the ideal move, as he could net Buzz City a decent player and a first-round pick. But is trading a good player for only a not-100-percent chance of landing two good pieces worth it?
It's starting to look like the Hornets should hold onto Bridges this offseason, as his contribution on both ends of the floor and in the locker room as a leader would be incredibly challenging to replace.