The Charlotte Hornets and restricted free agent forward Miles Bridges are gathering traction in talks on a new deal, and optimism exists that an agreement could come in the near future, sources told ESPN on Friday.
The sooner Bridges and the Hornets can reach a deal, the sooner he can seemingly start serving an NBA suspension expected to be handed down for his role in an offseason domestic violence case. Bridges, who had been accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend in front of their two children in June 2022, pleaded no contest to a felony charge in November and received a sentence of three years of probation and no jail time.
Bridges’ case remains under investigation by the league, and it’s unclear how long a suspension he is facing, sources said.
Bridges and his representatives with Klutch Sports have been in consistent contact with the Hornets organization, and the sides are working together on Bridges’ plans to work with local domestic violence groups and community organizations to start reacclimating himself to the Charlotte community.
arrested June 29 by Los Angeles police on a felony domestic violence warrant and later released on $130,000 bond. In July, the office of Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascon filed three felony domestic violence charges against Bridges — who initially pleaded not guilty to all three.
During his three-year probation, Bridges will be required to complete 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and 52 weeks of parenting classes and serve 100 hours of community service.
ESPN’s Baxter Holmes contributed to this report.