Monday was media day around the NBA, which meant that players around the league spoke with reporters as the season tips off in a few weeks. Miles Bridges, of course, was absent in Charlotte.
Bridges, who led the Hornets in scoring last season, was charged in June with three counts of felony domestic violence after the 24-year-old allegedly assaulted the mother of his two young children in front of them. He has pleaded not guilty and has a court date on Thursday.
Though the 6-foot-7 forward’s future is uncertain, at least one of his teammates hopes to see him back in a Hornets uniform soon.
“Definitely miss him,” LaMelo Ball told reporters. “Talking to him day and day just seeing what it is, but other than that … I haven’t really heard too much or anything.”
Should Bridges be found guilty of the charges, he could face up to 11 years, eight months in prison.
Though multiple Hornets players have been in touch with Bridges, none wanted to get too deep into the conversation when pressed.
“Not really tryna throw the negative energy,” Ball said. “Just keep it positive.”
Even if Bridges, a restricted free agent, didn’t go to jail, his status with the team and league is uncertain. He could sign an offer sheet with another team and see if the Hornets match; sign a long-term deal with Charlotte; play under the team’s one-year qualifying offer or sit out the season and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford, in his second year in Charlotte, also didn’t get into Bridges’ current situation, though he did discuss a contingency plan.
“When you play 82 games you are going to have guys injured, guys who are out, you have COVID. … so you have to be adaptable in your thinking and make sure you have a plan B and plan C when it comes to your playing groups,” he told reporters. “And this is a similar situation.”
P.J. Washington is expected to take Bridges’ spot in the starting lineup.