Grading what the Hornets did at the NBA trade deadline

Move #2: NOT trading Miles Bridges

Grade: B

It’s hard to judge the Hornets negatively on this non-move considering Bridges ultimately held the power in the decision. We may never know how actively the team was shopping him, and what they may have been willing to accept.

Bridges, through his agent Rich Paul, announced that he intended to use his veto power to put the kibosh on any trade he was involved in. A trade would have made very little sense for Bridges from a financial perspective, and he’s been putting up huge numbers lately. 

Staying in Charlotte will offer him the chance to keep proving his value on the floor while allowing for the Hornets to either sign and trade him or re-sign him themselves this offseason. Either way, barring more punitive actions against Bridges for his off-court actions, he will be signed to a multi-year contract.

Even though the Hornets may not have had much say in the matter, this is still probably good for them. They get to hang on to the asset and likely move Bridges to an enhanced market, filled with more teams with more assets available to deal.

If the Hornets can end up getting a first-round pick for Bridges at some point, then this would be a big win for the team, as it sounded like the best offers out there involved only second-rounders and salary matching; a tough pill to swallow considering how well Bridges has played this season.