The Los Angeles Clippers are eyeing Hornets forward Miles Bridges in free agency. Bridges spent a year out of the NBA in 2022-23 for domestic violence before returning last season. The Hornets forward is reportedly encouraged to join the Clippers as well, viewing the franchise as one that gives second chances to controversial players, according to LA Times’ Broderick Turner.
“People close to Bridges said that after seeing how Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has been willing to give players second chances, the team would be a great fit for him and that Bridges has learned from his mistakes.”
The example of Kevin Porter Jr’s signing with the Clippers after his domestic violence situation last season has encouraged Bridges’ representatives.
“One person pointed out how the Clippers just agreed to a two-year deal with guard Kevin Porter Jr., who was arrested last Sept. 11 for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend at a New York City hotel. The Houston Rockets banned Porter from team activities and traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who waived him. Porter spent last season in Greece and now the former USC standout is back in the NBA and still just 24.”
The Clippers are trying to re-shape their roster around James Harden and Kawhi Leonard after Paul George’s summer departure to the Philadelphia 76ers. Bridges was a highly coveted forward until two seasons ago before the news of his reported domestic violence became public. He didn’t have an NBA job for a season before re-signing with the Hornets last year.
The Hornets are not expected to keep Bridges, which has made him a candidate for winning teams looking to get a 20-point scorer for the low. He averaged 21.0 points and 7.3 rebounds last season.
Miles Bridges Would Be The Clippers’ Third Questionable Signing In 12 Months
As indicated by Bridges’ representatives, the Clippers are becoming a second-chance organization for former NBA players who were ostracized over behavioral issues. They signed Josh Primo in September 2023, a player who the Spurs had cut after inappropriate behavior with the team’s therapist. Primo was later guaranteed a full NBA contract by the Clippers in November before being waived in April 2024.
Kevin Porter Jr. was traded and waived midseason last year for domestic violence against former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick. Porter Jr. was seen playing in empty arenas in Greece, with his exclusion from the NBA seeming permanent given how both the Rockets and Thunder made negative asset deals to waive the $15 million he was owed.
The 24-year-old guard signed a two-year deal with the Clippers on day one of free agency, with the franchise looking to make cheap signings that could result in on-court success.
Bridges is the best player of them all and could help the Clippers remain a threat in the West. The team has acquired exceptional depth in light of George’s departure, which could be the winning formula they need behind Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
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