Report: Charlotte Hornets, Miles Bridges working toward new contract after offseason arrest
Miles Bridges is still a free agent after an offseason domestic assault arrest. However, he might be returning to the Charlotte Hornets with a new contract.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said the Hornets and the former Michigan State star are “gathering traction in talks” toward a new deal and it could come together in the “relative near future” in a report Friday. If he signs a contract, the NBA could give him a suspension after the May incident and provide clarity on when he could return to the court.
Bridges pled no contest to felony domestic violence charges in November and received three years probation. As a result, he will have to complete 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling, 52 weeks of parenting classes and 100 hours of community service.
Last year with the Hornets, Bridges averaged 20.2 points and 7.0 rebounds to help Charlotte to a 43-39 record to sneak into the NBA play-in tournament. This season, though, Charlotte is 8-24 without Bridges and key players such as LaMelo Ball due to injury.
More on Miles Bridges’ plea deal, domestic violence charges
Bridges was arrested for domestic violence in Los Angeles on June 29 after police responded to an incident involving “intimate partner violence with injury.” He was later released on a $130,000 bond.
He avoided prison time by accepting a plea deal from prosecutors in his criminal case that resulted in three domestic violences charges stemming from a May incident where Bridges assaulted his then-girlfriend in front of their children. Bridges ultimately plead no contest in a Los Angeles court to one count of felony domestic violence as a result of the plea deal.
The other two charges were dropped, and Bridges will be on probation for three years while also undergoing counseling, parenting classes and being subject to drug testing. He cannot own any guns, ammunition or dangerous weapons, according to an ESPN report on the plea deal.
By pleading no contest, Bridges is not contesting the charges while also not admitting guilt. He originally plead not guilty.
Along with those restorative punishments for Bridges, there is a protective order in place for 10 years between him and his then-girlfriend Mychelle Johnson, who Bridges attacked. They retain joint custody of their children and visitation or passing over custody must be done through a neutral third party to comply with the protective order.
On3’s Andrew Graham contributed to this report.