Report: Charlotte Hornets preparing to sign Miles Bridges to $7.9 million qualifying offer

The Charlotte Hornets are preparing to sign forward Miles Bridges to a $7.9 million qualifying offer for the 2023-24 season, Adrian Wojnarowksi of ESPN reported Sunday.

The move clears the way for Bridges to become an unrestricted free agent next summer as the two sides remain far apart in contract extension talks. Bridges has the right to veto any trade during the 2023-24 season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Bridges, Charlotte’s first-round selection (12th overall) in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Michigan State, missed the entirety of the 2022-23 season. He has 10 games remaining in his 30-game suspension after pleading no contest to a felony domestic violence charge this past November. The 25-year-old was sentenced to three years of probation, albeit no jail time. Bridges was accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend last May before being arrested by Los Angeles Police on June 29. As part of his plea agreement, two of the three felony charges filed against him were dropped. The NBA issued its suspension to Bridges in April.

Bridges has averaged 13.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game on 47.3% from the field in four seasons with the Hornets. He had a career year in 2021-22, averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on 49.1% shooting.

Hornets ink star guard to massive contract extension ahead of issuing qualifying offer to Miles Bridges

The Hornets have been a busy bunch since the beginning of free agency. All-Star guard LaMelo Ball agreed in principle Saturday to a five-year designated rookie max extension that could be worth as much as $260 million. Once signed, it will be the largest contract the franchise has ever given out to one player. The Orlando Magic are now the only NBA franchise to not have given out a contract worth more than $120 million.

The Hornets selected Ball, 21, with the third overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. He recorded career-highs of 23.3 points and 8.4 assists per game in 2022-23. Multiple ankle sprains limited him to just 36 games. A right ankle sprain ended his season in February.

“It’s tough,” Ball said in March, via NBA.com. “I mean probably annoying just going through it. But I’m still alive and stuff like that, so you can’t really be too mad. Just go through the rehab, do that whole process and try to come out on top.”