The 2025-26 campaign is nearly here, and the Charlotte Hornets are preparing for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Brooklyn Nets following a lackluster 2024-25 season.
The Hornets will be led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in the backcourt, with Miles Bridges set to play a major role in the frontcourt once again entering his seventh season in the league. The 27-year-old has averaged at least 20 points per game in each of the past three seasons and has been a consistent contributor while Ball has dealt with considerable injuries during that span.
Bridges signed a three-year, $75 million extension with the team in July 2024 and figures to be a key part of the team's future. If the Hornets look poised to miss the postseason for a 10th consecutive season, however, his future could come into question ahead of February's trade deadline.
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Hornets’ Miles Bridges ‘wants to be’ in Charlotte
Bridges has shown enough to make him a potential trade candidate for a contending team, though Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer believes the 2018 first-round pick will likely stay put, barring an offer the Hornets can't refuse.
“From this vantage point, hanging onto Miles Bridges for the entire season makes sense for a number of reasons. And right at the very top of that list should be five words capitalized and maybe even in bold print. He wants to be here,” Boone wrote. “He's said more than once that if he had his way he'd go the route of a Dirk Nowitzki and suit up for the same franchise for his entire career.”
While Bridges has expressed loyalty to Charlotte and signed an extension last offseason, staying in one place for his entire career may be easier said than done. The Michigan State product is under contract through the 2026-27 season, but in the age of apron restrictions, keeping Bridges long-term could prove challenging if he continues to perform at a relatively high level.
Brandon Miller is due for a contract extension in the near future and is set to enter restricted free agency after the 2026-27 campaign. As the franchise remains in somewhat of a rebuild, the Hornets won't want to risk losing Bridges for nothing.
Bridges’ production and the Hornets’ ability to enter playoff contention will be key to monitor this season. If the team falls out of the playoff race by midseason, the 6-foot-7 forward could draw interest from other teams.
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