Miles High: The Miles Bridges Thread

[Braggins]

oh what the hell...

[JDR720]

I think they're negotiating, but don't want bad PR from it. I don't know why Klutch would lie about it.

This entire situation doesn't make sense though.

[Rays Pompadour]

The Hornets don't know how to control their own spin...or care not to. As long as the franchise remains in a losing position, there's no PR to make. The team stinks, everybody knows it, so oh well no comment.

The summer signings, or lack thereof, sent a clear message that this was a throw-away year. Oubre and Plumlee on one-year deals. McDaniels signed to a one year deal, Martin signed to reasonable backup numbers. And that's it. I mean, that's it. The big fish was Miles Bridges, and I think the Hornets were going to ride out the market until Bridges did his idiotic thing. So, the summer reset was status quo, bring back McDaniels and Martin, draft a center.

And all along the way, we got bupkis from the front office. Radio silence, especially after Bridges. Therefore, we may fill in the blanks as we please. Because that's what happens in a void. So, here are my un-defensed hot takes:

The Charlotte Hornets want to lose. Players, coaches don't. But Kupchak does, though he'll never admit it, and Jordan has checked out.

Players have become immune to winning.

There are no leaders on this team. Sorry, Terry.

Steve Clifford fits the coaching profile Kupchak needs to set the tank without appearing to: non-innovator, old-school, veteran-driven.

The plan is to operate on the cheap, not stretch, not be creative and let the 2023 draft and summer dictate the next five years. Treadmill.

I believe Kupchak already knows Ball is gone and has a plan in place to trade him. There's no plan to build around Ball other than to draft beneath him, and that smells like a Clippers deal just waiting to happen.

The Hornets are not in love with PJ Washington. I know I'm not. Another developed player seeking more than he's worth. Buh-bye.
Also, Kupchak is working to sign Bridges to a four year deal below market value with a team option for the fourth year. I hope Bridges chokes on it.

Bouknight...I don't care. He's a loser.
Kai Jones tries hard. Still...I don't care. He doesn't count until he makes himself count.
Mark Williams will be the face of the franchise in three years after Ball is moved.
The Hornets will never pay the luxury tax. Just get settled in on that fact.

But, then, if Charlotte wins the lottery and drafts Ball a running mate, goes on a spending spree, builds a championship-level club that stays in tax hell year after year...well, I'll look like a dumbass for having such extremely negative views, and I'm just fine with that.

[amcoolio]

I'm just ready for a total refresh again....MJ has struck out twice. Gave him a pass for getting swindled by Cho, who seemed like a bright young basketball mind....but now its shifting towards being his fault as Kupchak has been as bad

[Hornet Mania]

I think they're negotiating, but don't want bad PR from it. I don't know why Klutch would lie about it.

This entire situation doesn't make sense though.

You don't think Klutch would do something shady just to get one of their clients ahead? Because I do.

I doubt they like having a client sitting in limbo with no idea when/if he can get a new deal. That's motivation enough to push a rumor out there to hopefully jolt the situation into moving a bit. There is no downside for them, if the trial balloon gets popped they can just shrug it off as one of the many false sports rumors we see in a given week.

[Liver_Pooty]

Lol. This entire ordeal just continues to get even more embarrassing.

[Liver_Pooty]

Fortunately we have a beat writer who's sole purpose is to tweet that half the teams questionable every game.

[fatlever]

if the hornets source is legit, and they did say they arent negotiating - if its actually true they are negotiating... gonna be hard to walk that back.

i dont understand why hornets would comment on this, unless they 100% dont plan to bring him back, which i dont believe

[SWedd523]

Did the Hornets comment on it?

[Braggins]

I was holding off complaining about the lack of any activity on the trade front because I assumed they were focusing on the Miles situation, but I guess we are back to this...

Is this entire franchise just completely asleep at the wheel? Is anyone employed here actually doing their job in any capacity?

[JMAC3]

I was holding off complaining about the lack of any activity on the trade front because I assumed they were focusing on the Miles situation, but I guess we are back to this...

Is this entire franchise just completely asleep at the wheel? Is anyone employed here actually doing their job in any capacity?

90% of nba trades happen at deadline. Expecting the Hornets to be swimming in offers right now makes no sense.

The interest will be higher at deadline, which likely means higher returns. Especially in a league that looks to be short on sellers.

[fatlever]

Did the Hornets comment on it?

according to that oped, hornets were sourced

[Liver_Pooty]

if the hornets source is legit, and they did say they arent negotiating - if its actually true they are negotiating... gonna be hard to walk that back.

i dont understand why hornets would comment on this, unless they 100% dont plan to bring him back, which i dont believe

Unless they told a blatant lie to a female writer about to write an OPed obviously stating how big of a mistake it would be to bring him back, which I doubt is the case as well.

[Hornet Mania]

If the front office hasn't entered negotiations with Klutch but also won't cut Bridges it probably means they're trying to put together some sort of sign and trade at the deadline. That or they have decided to punt the entire sordid episode to next summer, which wouldn't be out of character either.

[fatlever]

Read on Twitter

?t=pHZNcDHEBQLdl3SO2x5sYg&s=19

Miles share a new workout video taken from UNCC Charlotte campus gym. So, he's back in Charlotte. Interesting. Why?

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[JMAC3]

Flat out the Hornets would be silly not to resign him to at least a 3 year deal. Yes, first year he will be suspended. but he is still young enough that he will be worth more in a trade after playing 40 games in 2023 then he is right now.

It is not like he suffered a crazy injury, so I would not expect his play to be much different and the further we get away from this incident the less his trade value will be affected from the borderline allstar he was last year.

[fatlever]

“There will not be clarity [with the Miles Bridges situation] until the NBA’s investigation is complete… and it is not complete as far as I know.”

- Brian Windhorst (via @wesandwalker)

Read on Twitter

?t=1Ghi6CrI3l0nz229HeIE6g&s=19

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[fatlever]

It might be 2024 before he plays for anyone.

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[SWedd523]

“There will not be clarity [with the Miles Bridges situation] until the NBA’s investigation is complete… and it is not complete as far as I know.”

- Brian Windhorst (via @wesandwalker)

Read on Twitter

?t=1Ghi6CrI3l0nz229HeIE6g&s=19

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM Forums mobile app

Well I guess the team HAS decided to wait on the league to make their decision before contracts get signed.

Prob means he doesn't play this year at all.

[Diop]

I had a dream that GSW signed him.

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