Free-agent forward Miles Bridges agreed to a 3-year, $75 million contract to return to the Charlotte Hornets, agents Rich Paul and Brandon Cavanaugh of Klutch Sports told The Athletic.
Bridges, a 2018 lottery pick, is coming off a year in which he averaged career highs of 21 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
In June 2022, Bridges was arrested on felony domestic violence charges, for which he later pleaded no contest. In October, he was also issued a criminal summons for a violation of a domestic violence protective order, misdemeanor child abuse and injury to personal property. The summons alleged Bridges threw pool table balls at his ex-girlfriend’s car — which smashed the windshield and dented her car — and threatened to withhold child support if she told the police. His children were in the car at the time of the incident.
He did not play in the 2022-23 season and was issued a suspension that carried over into the start of 2023-24. Charges from both incidents were dropped against Bridges in February due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
On the court, Bridges, despite his scoring ability, has been a spotty shooter and inconsistent defender throughout his career. His assists numbers and free throw attempts both dipped in 2023-24. Given the dearth of combo forwards on the market, though, the basketball case for him as at least a sixth man alongside a core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and 2024 first-round pick Tidjane Salaun is solid.
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)
