According to sources, the Charlotte Hornets and restricted free agent forward Miles Bridges are close to an agreement on a new contract.
The sooner Bridges and the Hornets can reach a deal, the sooner he can start serving his NBA suspension for his involvement in a domestic violence case. In November, Bridges pleaded no contest to a felony and was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Bridges' case is under investigation by the league and it's not clear how long he will be out.
Bridges and his representatives with Klutch Sports have been in constant communication with the Hornets organization, and the sides are working together on Bridges' plans to work with domestic violence groups and community organizations in Charlotte.
If a deal can't be reached with Bridges, he would remain a restricted free agent this summer in a marketplace that includes teams with ample salary-cap space and needs to upgrade their wings.
Taylor was suspended for 24 games by the NBA after he pleaded guilty to a domestic violence assault charge.
Bridges is considered a cornerstone player for Charlotte. He averaged 20.2 points, 7 Rebounds and 3.8 Assists.
As a restricted free agent over the summer, Bridges was thought to be on the verge of signing a $100 million-plus offer sheet that Charlotte would likely match. Bridges is working on a new deal with Charlotte after the arrest and charges.
Without Bridges, the Hornets have struggled and other key players have missed time with injuries.
Bridges didn't admit guilt in the case. He was released on a $130,000 bond after he was arrested on a felony domestic violence warrant. Bridges initially pleaded not guilty to all three felony domestic violence charges filed by the Los Angeles County district attorney.
Bridges will have to complete 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and 52 weeks of parenting classes and serve 100 hours of community service as part of his three-year supervised release.
This report was contributed to by a person from the sports network.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
