Miles Bridges
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Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets has been linked to trade rumors ahead of the deadline.
One of the reasons why the Charlotte Hornets are close to matching their win total from last season is Miles Bridges‘ play at power forward. However, it seems like the Hornets are open to trading Bridges despite the possibility of fighting for a play-in spot.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, multiple teams are interested in acquiring Bridges at the trade deadline on February 5. Some of the teams mentioned by Amick are the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.
Amick added a tidbit about how open the Hornets’ front office is in parting ways with the 27-year-old forward.
“It remains to be seen if any team can compel the Hornets to give Bridges up,’ said Amick in his Friday morning report. Draft capital is also a pivotal part of the conversation,” Amick wrote.
One source told Amick that the Hornets could be enticed with a first-round pick or two. Bridges is in the second year of a three-year, $75 million contract. He’s averaging 18.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for the 18-28 Hornets.
Bridges Comments on Trade Rumors
Speaking to The Charlotte Observer’s Roderick Boone, Miles Bridges opened up about being linked to trade rumors ahead of the deadline. Bridges is used to it by now since his name seemingly floats in the rumor mill every trade season.
“Just focus on winning, focus on controlling what I can control. If I get traded, if I don’t get traded. … I would rather be here. But I know if I do get traded, I know Jeff Peterson (the Hornets’ president of basketball operations) and those guys, they’ll talk to me first. So, I don’t try to worry about that. I just worry about the games,” Bridges said.
The Michigan State product has been with the Hornets since they acquired him in a draft-day trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2018.
The franchise also stuck with him amid legal trouble that caused him to miss the entire 2022-23 NBA season.
Possible Reason Why Hornets Are Open to Trading Bridges
The Charlotte Hornets are 3.5 games behind the 10th and final spot for the NBA Play-In Tournament. The Hornets are powered by their young trio of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, who are now getting an extended run with Miller finally staying healthy.
Miles Bridges has been a really good fit alongside the three players, but why are the Hornets open to trading him?
Matt Alquiza of Hornets on Sports Illustrated opined a variety of explanations why the franchise could part ways with their longtime power forward.
“First, the Hornets are just better when Bridges is off the floor. Charlotte’s net rating plummets when Miles plays, dropping by 10.1 points in his 1,444 minutes this season,” Alquiza wrote.
While that stat can be explained by Bridges playing minutes with four bench guys, it’s hard to argue Alquiza’s next two points. Bridges isn’t a consistent threat to stretch the floor.
Grant Williams offers more shooting and defense, though he’s suited for a role off the bench. Tidjane Salaun has more potential at just 20 years old. He’s also taller than Bridges and is a natural power forward.
Salaun is averaging 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 16.4 minutes per game, while shooting 51.5% from the field and 44.1% from beyond the arc.