It seems so long ago when the Charlotte Hornets had a 4-5 standing, and fans were salivating about the prospect of seeing the team in the playoffs. That would have been a treat for the organization after last making it to that stage in 2016.
However, making even the postseason is now a long shot for the Hornets. After losing 12 of their last 13 games, which includes an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Washington Wizards, they now sit in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with a 7-21 standing.
Missing the playoffs at least one more year shouldn't be the end of the world for Charlotte. But how it has racked up the losses has left a bitter taste in fans' mouths.
The team can reason out all it wants that injuries have factored largely into its struggles. While that may be true, underperforming players also have to be accountable for contributing to the Hornets' disappointing run so far.
Miles Bridges hasn't lived up to his contract
Chief among those who have played below expectations is Mies Bridges.
Coming into the 2024-25 campaign, the Hornets top brass emphasized that the franchise's core players are LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams, and whoever would be their 2024 draft pick, which turned out to be Tidjane Salaun. Notice how Bridges wasn't included. That was likely intentional, as the 2018 12th overall pick hasn't given folks to believe he can be a foundational piece of a contending squad.
Still, he has shown value as a scorer and rebounder, as evidenced by his averages of 20.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in his previous two seasons (he sat out the 2022-23 campaign due to off-court issues.)
That level of production was enough for the Hornets to offer Bridges a three-year, $75 million contract extension this past summer, making him the organization's second-highest-paid player after Ball. There was some pushback on the decision, given the forward's reputation on and off the court.
However, Charlotte probably thought that if he could deliver as its third-best scorer behind Ball and Miller and emerge as the go-to guy when the pair of youngsters are out of commission, he would be worth an average of $25 million annually.
Unfortunately, Bridges hasn't been that reliable of a scorer, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 28.7 percent from beyond the arc this season. It would likely be fine if he can contribute elsewhere, but his defense and rebounding have been nothing to write home about. Intriguingly, whenever the 26-year-old vet is on the floor, Charlotte has been outscored by 6.3 points per match. Only Williams has had a worse mark.
Of course, the injuries Bridges has endured and the introduction of a new coaching staff could have factored into his subpar play. Then again, if your salary is higher than everyone else other than Ball, people's expectations become greater.