Miles High: The Miles Bridges Thread

[vorbis]

I think his situation is somehow different, to be fair, in that there are significant non-basketball reasons why the team might try to minimize their financial commitment to a player with substantial legal issues in his recent past.

aside from that, yes, I think the NBA cap structure incentivizes players to try to make it work with their present team when it's time for a new contract.

[JustBuzzin]

Would Bridges for Garland be a realistic sign n trade?

Both Klutch clients and DMitch is reportedly signing the max to stay in Cleveland.

Garland and Miller best friends. Not sure how it would work with Melo/Garland backcourt tho.

[yosemiteben]

Would Bridges for Garland be a realistic sign n trade?

Seems extremely unlikely to me but I guess you'd have to ask Cleveland fans.

[Bassman]

FWIW, on the Locked On Hornets podcast, guest Nada Edwards believes Miles will not be signed due to his price tag and the opportunity to have $30M in cap space. Gave no info on who we’d go after to replace him. Just one guy’s opinion.

Would be nice to know if it’s getting done or not before the draft. When does FA open?

[JDR720]

What would we do with cap space that is better than keeping Miles?

[yosemiteben]

Would be nice to know if it’s getting done or not before the draft. When does FA open?

Helpful link for this: https://www.nba.com/news/key-dates

The day after the Finals teams can begin negotiating with their own FAs, which would be before the draft. Tough dynamic though because players technically can't talk to other teams until 6/30 so if they are wanting to check against the market (which I assume Miles will want to do) then it seems very unlikely that a pre-draft deal would get done.

[JustBuzzin]

FWIW, on the Locked On Hornets podcast, guest Nada Edwards believes Miles will not be signed due to his price tag and the opportunity to have $30M in cap space. Gave no info on who we’d go after to replace him. Just one guy’s opinion.

Would be nice to know if it’s getting done or not before the draft. When does FA open?

I been saying this for a while. Miles is going for the biggest offer. I have seen people say 25mil a year. That's just not happening.

Be prepared to pay Miles 30+mil a year. He's going to be the best available when LeBron/Siakam/PG/Harden all return to their respective teams.


So many teams with cap space will need to spend some money. Miles is gonna get paid the question is how much and is Charlotte willing to match that number.

[Rich4114]

FWIW, on the Locked On Hornets podcast, guest Nada Edwards believes Miles will not be signed due to his price tag and the opportunity to have $30M in cap space. Gave no info on who we’d go after to replace him. Just one guy’s opinion.

Would be nice to know if it’s getting done or not before the draft. When does FA open?

Nata thinks he knows everything and the only takes that seem to be good are his draft prospect ones since he's a college basketball guy first and foremost. He was a bit of a Terry truther too if I recall. $30m in cap space won't do us any good unless there's an opportunity to sign someone like OG. I can't picture any of the major $30m type guys not returning to their current teams.

[JMAC3]

What would we do with cap space that is better than keeping Miles?

This is where I am at. If someone can actually sell me on a realistic plan I would probably be more open to it. However most the plans regarding Miles is just get rid of him and the plan stops there with no real replacement plan.

I went through this a few weeks ago, but if we waive Bertans we are looking at a situation where we have 30 Million in Cap Space.

Option 1: Resign Miles (cap hold 15) + spend the other 15 million on a FA.= Assuming Miles gets 30, we would be adding 45 million in $

Option 2: Let Miles Walk and have 30 million in cap space.
Plan A: Spend all 30 million on a player? This is where the names are lacking.
Plan B: Split the 30 among several guys. So maybe we give 15 million to a Valanciunas type, 15 million to a Toppin type. Add 30 mill

My Take: We could add Valanciunas and Miles or we could add Valanciunas and Toppin. Then I am leaning towards the one that has Miles.

[MPM]

What would we do with cap space that is better than keeping Miles?

This is where I am at. If someone can actually sell me on a realistic plan I would probably be more open to it. However most the plans regarding Miles is just get rid of him and the plan stops there with no real replacement plan.

I went through this a few weeks ago, but if we waive Bertans we are looking at a situation where we have 30 Million in Cap Space.

Option 1: Resign Miles (cap hold 15) + spend the other 15 million on a FA.= Assuming Miles gets 30, we would be adding 45 million in $

Option 2: Let Miles Walk and have 30 million in cap space.
Plan A: Spend all 30 million on a player? This is where the names are lacking.
Plan B: Split the 30 among several guys. So maybe we give 15 million to a Valanciunas type, 15 million to a Toppin type. Add 30 mill

My Take: We could add Valanciunas and Miles or we could add Valanciunas and Toppin. Then I am leaning towards the one that has Miles.

This is where I'm at as well. Just not a good enough reason out there to move on from Miles.

[Rich4114]

What would we do with cap space that is better than keeping Miles?

This is where I am at. If someone can actually sell me on a realistic plan I would probably be more open to it. However most the plans regarding Miles is just get rid of him and the plan stops there with no real replacement plan.

I went through this a few weeks ago, but if we waive Bertans we are looking at a situation where we have 30 Million in Cap Space.

Option 1: Resign Miles (cap hold 15) + spend the other 15 million on a FA.= Assuming Miles gets 30, we would be adding 45 million in $

Option 2: Let Miles Walk and have 30 million in cap space.
Plan A: Spend all 30 million on a player? This is where the names are lacking.
Plan B: Split the 30 among several guys. So maybe we give 15 million to a Valanciunas type, 15 million to a Toppin type. Add 30 mill

My Take: We could add Valanciunas and Miles or we could add Valanciunas and Toppin. Then I am leaning towards the one that has Miles.

This is where I'm at. Just not a good enough reason out there to move on from Miles.

Count me in on this camp, Option 2 makes no sense. Option 1 gives us the opportunity to not only keep a productive player but add another one.

[EmpireFalls]

Screw him for holding us hostage.

[fatlever]

My gut for most of the season has been leaning towards us not bringing him back.

But if that happens I do hope we can at least swing some type of sign and trade to get some bit of value in return.

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

[JMAC3]

My gut for most of the season has been leaning towards us not bringing him back.

But if that happens I do hope we can at least swing some type of sign and trade to get some bit of value in return.

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

How does that fit the narrative the front office is trying to compete?

We are likely to have the lowest payroll in the NBA if Miles walks in FA.

[fatlever]

i dunno. it's just a hunch. maybe the new onwers/new gm just aren't that keen on miles as a person due to his off court issues? or don't see upside in a guy with declining athleticism as a 3rd guy in the offense making 30 mil? or maybe they just want more flexibility? maybe they want him at 20-25mil but are't willing to go to 30? or maybe they view miles as part of the culture problem? i really have no idea.
like i said, just a hunch.
personally, i'd bring him back and operate as cap team like jmac mentioned. we can always move him later, if needed.

[JustBuzzin]

Hornets IG still posting him. On the other hand I haven't heard HC Charles Lee mention anything about Miles. He's met with Miller/Mark/Melo.

Maybe it's because he's a FA and he's not ready to speak on his role yet. Who knows...

[luciano-davidwesley]

What would we do with cap space that is better than keeping Miles?

This is where I am at. If someone can actually sell me on a realistic plan I would probably be more open to it. However most the plans regarding Miles is just get rid of him and the plan stops there with no real replacement plan.

I went through this a few weeks ago, but if we waive Bertans we are looking at a situation where we have 30 Million in Cap Space.

Option 1: Resign Miles (cap hold 15) + spend the other 15 million on a FA.= Assuming Miles gets 30, we would be adding 45 million in $

Option 2: Let Miles Walk and have 30 million in cap space.
Plan A: Spend all 30 million on a player? This is where the names are lacking.
Plan B: Split the 30 among several guys. So maybe we give 15 million to a Valanciunas type, 15 million to a Toppin type. Add 30 mill

My Take: We could add Valanciunas and Miles or we could add Valanciunas and Toppin. Then I am leaning towards the one that has Miles.

I'm thinking if we sign Miles to a significant contract plan A is to try and sign and trade him to another team for assets and/or a younger prospect.

Miles at $30 million AAV needs to be traded before the mid season trade deadline or he eventually becomes a bad contract within 12 months.

[Snidely FC]

Bobby Marks ESPN+ on the contract he would offer Bridges:

The deal I'd offer: Four years, $105.5 million. The contract is guaranteed in the first season and has rolling protection in Years 2 to 4.

Best free agent fits: Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz

There is no debate on Bridges' value on the court.

In two of the past three seasons (he did not play in 2022-23), Bridges averaged at least 20 points per game. Last season, he had career highs in rebounds (7.3) and steals (0.94).

He became the 11th player in NBA history to record each of his first two career 40-point games in consecutive games and became only the second player in Hornets history with 45 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a game.

The question on his next contract is not basketball related but if a team can trust him.

Bridges was arrested in June 2022 for felony domestic violence. He missed the 2022-23 season and plead no contest to the charge. He was eventually suspended 30 games because of the domestic violence incident. Bridges was then charged in October 2023 with violating his probation and protection order. The charges were eventually dismissed due to "insufficient evidence to warrant prosecution," per a court filing obtained by ESPN.

Because of Bridges' off-court transgressions, it is hard to wrap my arms around guaranteeing all four years of the $100 million contract.

Similar to the extension Houston signed Kevin Porter Jr. to in October 2022, the first-year salary of $30 million is fully guaranteed. The remaining three seasons decline, are nonguaranteed and have trigger dates that allow Charlotte to waive Bridges and not incur a financial penalty.

For example, the $27.6 million salary in 2025-26 is guaranteed if Bridges is not waived by June 29, 2025.

Porter was arrested in September for domestic violence, traded to Oklahoma City and then waived. The Thunder were responsible for $16.8 of the $63.4 million left on his contract.

[JustBuzzin]

Anything below 30mil is a good deal for us.

[lmcguir15]

Bobby Marks ESPN+ on the contract he would offer Bridges:

The deal I'd offer: Four years, $105.5 million. The contract is guaranteed in the first season and has rolling protection in Years 2 to 4.

Best free agent fits: Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz

There is no debate on Bridges' value on the court.

In two of the past three seasons (he did not play in 2022-23), Bridges averaged at least 20 points per game. Last season, he had career highs in rebounds (7.3) and steals (0.94).

He became the 11th player in NBA history to record each of his first two career 40-point games in consecutive games and became only the second player in Hornets history with 45 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a game.

The question on his next contract is not basketball related but if a team can trust him.

Bridges was arrested in June 2022 for felony domestic violence. He missed the 2022-23 season and plead no contest to the charge. He was eventually suspended 30 games because of the domestic violence incident. Bridges was then charged in October 2023 with violating his probation and protection order. The charges were eventually dismissed due to "insufficient evidence to warrant prosecution," per a court filing obtained by ESPN.

Because of Bridges' off-court transgressions, it is hard to wrap my arms around guaranteeing all four years of the $100 million contract.

Similar to the extension Houston signed Kevin Porter Jr. to in October 2022, the first-year salary of $30 million is fully guaranteed. The remaining three seasons decline, are nonguaranteed and have trigger dates that allow Charlotte to waive Bridges and not incur a financial penalty.

For example, the $27.6 million salary in 2025-26 is guaranteed if Bridges is not waived by June 29, 2025.

Porter was arrested in September for domestic violence, traded to Oklahoma City and then waived. The Thunder were responsible for $16.8 of the $63.4 million left on his contract.

In a perfect world, Miles would make some concessions with the self awareness that he's a risky value prop and screwed the team over once before. This is also the guy that turned down playing for Phoenix, just so he could secure the extra year with Charlotte.

As others have mentioned, he's going for the most money possible. There's zero chance he take a mostly unguaranteed deal unless his market is completely empty. Can you imagine the position he would put the Players Association in if he actually took this deal?