According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, three criminal counts against Miles Bridges were dropped on Tuesday by the state of North Carolina.
The State of North Carolina has dropped three criminal counts – including a domestic violence protective order violation, misdemeanor child abuse and injury to personal property - against the Charlotte Hornets’ Miles Bridges for “lack of sufficient evidence,” according to a…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 13, 2024
These were related to a separate incident from the domestic violence count, which Bridges pleaded ‘no contest’ to, and was suspended by the NBA. He served the final ten games of that suspension at the beginning of this season and has played for the Hornets ever since.
This whole saga has been horrible for everyone involved, the victims first and foremost. There are plenty of people who have spoken about the off-court incidents. But Tuesday’s legal proceedings obviously impact what happens on the court for Bridges and the Hornets.
Basketball impact
Regardless of what the court of opinion thinks, this likely means there will be no more further suspensions and missed games for Bridges. If he can stay out of trouble, this should be the end of any team or league punitive actions.
This is important information for the Hornets and the rest of the league to have as Bridges will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after deciding he would veto any trade at the deadline. Charlotte has his Bird Rights and may be looking to lock him up long term, but plenty of teams may be interested in executing a sign-and-trade as well.
Bridges has been playing some great basketball for the Hornets this season, and especially lately. The 25 year old has averaged career highs with 21.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in 42 games this year and has added 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks, and becoming an efficient 37% three-point shooter on high volume (6.6 attempts per game).
It’s safe to say that’s the kind of resume that would appeal to any team in the league, but the off-court issues have dulled, and almost nullified any market for Bridges’ services as a basketball player. But right or wrong, that could change this offseason is the NBA has deemed that the off-court situations are a thing of the past.
Still, there will surely be plenty of teams that have no interest in acquiring a player who is on probation for 3 years and serving a 10-year criminal protective order, and rightfully so. There is extreme risk associated with Bridges, also rightfully so. But again, if the league is allowing a player to play, and the player is producing at that level, there will always be teams willing to employ said player.