Miles Bridges was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday on a felony domestic violence charge.
According to law enforcement sources, a woman claims she was in an argument with Bridges that turned physical. Police were called to the scenes, but Bridges had already departed before they arrived. The woman required medical attention.
Bridges is entering restricted free agency with the Charlotte Hornets.
We say it every summer, but this year’s NBA free agency has the potential to be one of the wildest in recent memory. Though Kyrie Irving’s decision to opt into the final year of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets — taking him off the board as the league’s most coveted free agent — there’s still a chance he could be on the move if GM Sean Marks wants to cut his losses. In typical NBA fashion, a trade could dictate how everything else plays out.
For instance, what happens if Jaylen Brown get dealt? Or Kevin Durant?
There’s plenty of intrigue with this year’s free agency, which begins on Thursday, June 30, at 6 p.m. ET. We’ve already heard rumors of the first domino falling, with John Wall expected to be bought out by the Houston Rockets and then sign with the LA Clippers.
Sports betting apps see Wall’s addition — and the impending return of a healthy Kawhi Leonard — as big enough news to vault the Clippers near the top of the NBA title odds list. With Wall’s signing and the expectation that Irving stays, here’s where oddsmakers have pegged title favorites:
| Team | Odds |
| Warriors | +500 |
| Clippers | +600 |
| Celtics | +650 |
| Bucks | +700 |
| Nets | +850 |
| Suns | +1000 |
| Mavs | +1400 |
| Lakers | +1400 |
| Grizzlies | +1400 |
| Heat | +1400 |
| 76ers | +1400 |
Odds via BetMGM; check out the BetMGM bonus code REALGM for a $1,000 risk-free bet
Though we don’t expect Irving, Kevin Durant or James Harden to be swapping uniforms on Thursday, there are some big names who should make headlines shortly after the clock strikes 6 p.m.
We expect that the Bulls (+2500 title odds) will retain Zach LaVine with a five-year maximum deal, but the Phoenix Suns (+1000) seem reluctant to pay former top pick Deandre Ayton. Jalen Brunson may have priced himself out of Dallas (+1400) with a strong postseason, while the Hornets (+10000) will need to decide what Miles Bridges is worth as they rebuild around LaMelo Ball.
In terms of what moves could swing title odds most, the Suns would likely see a dip if Ayton leaves — but one would expect GM James Jones to have a backup plan to replace his 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds. Arizona sports betting apps might see a spike in activity, depending on how things play out.
It would sting for the Mavericks to lose Brunson after he played alongside Luka Doncic to get Dallas to the Western Conference Finals, but they also traded for Christian Wood and drafted Jaden Hardy a week ago. They aren’t going anywhere as long as No. 77 is upright.
The Warriors are the defending champs and seem intent on running it back. Both Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II are expected to re-sign with Golden State when free agency begins, meaning Steve Kerr’s group will return seven of its top eight rotation players from last year’s title squad.
Other contenders could make giant splashes that we’re not sure exist right now, but it’ll be tough for any group to surpass the Warriors as title favorites.
More trade rumors abound as we near the start of free agency, and the latest involves one of the top young guards in the league. Dejounte Murray could be heading to Atlanta, where he’d form an intriguing — and stellar — backcourt duo with Trae Young.
The Hawks (+6600) struggled last season, but adding Murray, who finished second in the Most Improved Players voting behind Ja Morant, would give them the potential to earn a top-4 seed in the East. The Spurs feel content to rebuild, and it could be the Hawks who wind up as big winners because of it.
The Lakers are just +1400 to win next year’s NBA title, an almost unthinkable set of odds considering they’ll once again be led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But last year’s injury-riddled, Russ Westbrook-tanking season didn’t leave oddsmakers any choice. T
here was a thought that Irving would sign for the Mid-Level Exception in LA, but that’s no longer an option. Instead, the Lakers will need to get creative to fill some serious holes — and decide what to do with Westbrook — without much cap flexibility.
Rob Pelinka has built a title roster before, but this might be asking a lot.
Mark Strotman
The Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies have been linked to a pursuit of Miles Bridges in restricted free agency.
The Pacers have considered a run for Bridges, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. It is unclear, however, whether the Pacers are actually prepared to add an expensive contract as the rebuild. The Pacers have historically eschewed pursuing restricted free agents, but they did acquire Malcolm Brogdon in a sign-and-trade in 2019.
Executives also say that the Grizzlies are a "sleeper candidate" for Bridges. Bridges played collegiately at Michigan State with Jaren Jackson Jr. League figures with knowledge of the situation have shot down the rumored interest of the Grizzlies.
The Hornets have signaled they're prepared to match any offer sheet for Bridges.
The Charlotte Hornets have exercised their team option for Jalen McDaniels for the upcoming season. McDaniels is now on Charlotte's books for $1.9 million.
In a bit of a twist, McDaniels' contract converts to being non-guaranteed until August 1 for Charlotte. The soon-to-be fourth-year forward will then be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023, barring signing an extension.
McDaniels scored 6.2 points in 16.3 minutes per game for the Hornets last season. The 24-year-old also shot career-bests 48% from the floor and 38% on three-pointers.
Steve Clifford has agreed to return to the Charlotte Hornets as head coach. Clifford was previously head coach of the Hornets until joining the Orlando Magic. Clifford and the Magic parted ways last offseason.
The Hornets previously agreed to hire Kenny Atkinson before he backed out of the verbal deal.
Charlotte fired James Borrego at the end of the season.
Steve Clifford has emerged as a candidate to become the next head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.
Clifford coached the Hornets from 2013 until 2018 when he became head coach of the Orlando Magic. Clifford left the Magic after the 20-21 season and was a consultant to Steve Nash with the Brooklyn Nets last season.
The Hornets resumed their head coaching search after Kenny Atkinson surprisingly backed out of their verbal agreement.
Mike D'Antoni was the only other known finalist for the job before the Hornets reached a deal with Atkinson. D'Antoni met with Michael Jordan this week.
Speaking on ESPN, Brian Windhorst shared some intel on the Charlotte Hornets plans at the 2022 NBA Draft and during free agency. Windhorst said that that Charlotte is looking to clear some salary obligations and is willing to attach either of their 2022 draft picks to do it.
The player mentioned was Gordon Hayward, who has a $30.1 million salary for next season and is owed $31.5 million in 2023-24. The Hornets may be willing to move either #13 or #15 in the 2022 NBA Draft to get off of Hayward's deal.
The concern for Charlotte seems to be creating some wiggle room to re-sign Miles Bridges. It's been reported that the Hornets have hesitancy on matching a max offer sheet for Bridges in restricted free agency. This mostly seems due to the team's mounting salary obligations, with Hayward's $30 million-plus deal on the books.
The Charlotte Hornets have fully guaranteed Mason Plumlee's $9.1 million contract for the 2022-23 season. Charlotte had until end of day on Tuesday to waive Plumlee. The Hornets would have had to eat roughly half of his salary in guaranteed money.
The Hornets acquired Plumlee in a draft-day deal last offseason. He went on to start 73 games for Charlotte.
In those 73 appearances, Plumlee averaged 6.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 24.6 minutes per game. The upcoming season is the final season of a three-year deal that Plumlee initially signed with the Detroit Pistons.
Mike D'Antoni was set to meet with Michael Jordan on Tuesday as the Charlotte Hornets reopen their head coaching search.
The Hornets agreed in principle to a deal with Kenny Atkinson before he backed out of it to remain with the Golden State Warriors.
D'Antoni was previously a finalist for the job and had two meetings with management of the Hornets. At one point, D'Antoni was considered the favorite for the job.
D'Antoni last was a head coach in 19-20 with the Houston Rockets.
The decision made by Kenny Atkinson to back out of a four-year contract to become head coach of the Charlotte Hornets had nothing to do with the future of Steve Kerr as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
Kerr is not believed to have a timetable for when he would step away from coaching.
Before Atkinson and the Hornets formally signed a contract, the team was unable to come to financial agreements for his new assistants. The Hornets are known to be among the league's bottom five teams in coaching staff salary.
Atkinson will become the lead assistant coach for the Warriors and will not have to uproot his family for the third straight season.
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