The Charlotte Hornets' best trade chip is obvious, but will they actually move him?
The Charlotte Hornets appear to be building something special, boasting one of the most impressive stables of young talent in the NBA.
The trio of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller is truly enviable, and the Hornets have some really good supplementary pieces around those three, as well.
It's clear that Charlotte is creating a legitimate contender, but there is still work to be done. The Hornets will soon be entering a pivotal offseason in which they will get to do some more tinkering, and that could mean a trade is on the horizon.
Last summer, Ball was viewed as Charlotte's most likely trade candidate, but considering that he has finally stayed healthy this season and is playing some terrific basketball, that ship has probably sailed.
But there is still one integral Hornets player who could get dealt this offseason: Miles Bridges.
Bridges is having one of the best years of his career, averaging 17.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists over 31.1 minutes per game on 46.0/33.4/82.5 shooting splits. He owns a true-shooting percentage of 57.1, his highest mark since 2020-21 (when he was serving in a bench role), and his defensive versatility is very valuable.
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges. Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images.The catch is that the 28-year-old is preparing to enter the final year of his contract, and with Ball already locked up on a max deal and players like Miller and Knueppel also on the docket, it seems unlikely that Charlotte will keep Bridges long term.
Perhaps Bridges would accept a discount, but I'm not sure why he would do that considering how much money he can probably make on the open market next summer.
Bridges also has a very team-friendly salary. He is slated to earn $22.8 million in 2026-27, which is very palatable for a player with his level of production. That gives him quite a bit of trade value.
There is no doubt that the Michigan State product holds tremendous value for the Hornets next season, as well, but will Charlotte be ready to win a championship next year? Probably not. Building for the future is key, and shipping off Bridges for a couple of assets may be the way to go for the the squad.
Given Bridges' microwave scoring talent and his ability to guard multiple positions defensively, plenty of teams would likely be interested in acquiring him. The Hornets could then sell him to the highest bidder.
Is it a guarantee Bridges gets dealt? Absolutely not, but it's certainly something to monitor as we approach the NBA offseason.
Hornets Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Hornets. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.