The Detroit Pistons could have as much as $60 million in salary cap space this offseason. One of their rumored targets is Charlotte forward Miles Bridges.
Detroit will get a first-hand look at Bridges when it hosts the Hornets on Monday night.
Bridges will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after he signed a qualifying offer last offseason. He was headed for a big free-agent payday two summers ago, but legal issues related to domestic violence allegations marred his career.
Bridges didn’t play at all last season and was suspended for Charlotte’s first 10 games this season. Bridges, who attended Michigan State, has been a model of consistency on the court since returning.
In 53 games (51 starts), Bridges has averaged 21.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
The Hornets lost 112-100 to the Washington Wizards on Friday, their sixth consecutive defeat, despite 32 points and 12 rebounds from Bridges. Charlotte ended the skid on Saturday by beating the Brooklyn Nets 110-99.
Bridges supplied a team-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds and four assists.
“The one thing about Miles is … (he played) 39 minutes (Saturday), second night of a back-to-back, I think he played 40 last night, and he plays every play. He takes no plays off,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “He’s into it, he knows what we’re doing and he’s all-out. … You want guys that compete every night, and he does it.”
Charlotte had several other major contributors in the win over the Nets. Rookie Brandon Miller had 23 points and seven rebounds, point guard Vasilije Micic notched 12 points and 10 assists and center Nick Richards delivered 15 points and 11 rebounds.
“It’s a good opportunity for him,” Clifford said of Richards. “He’s getting to play big minutes. He’s playing against starters a good majority of the time. You’ve got to remember he really didn’t get minutes as a pro until last year, so he needs this.”
The Hornets closed out the game by holding the Nets to 17 points in the fourth quarter.
“We were in the same exact place (Friday) in the fourth quarter and kind of lost our way at both ends,” Clifford said. “(Saturday), we weren’t great offensively, but our defense was much better. For three quarters, our offense was really good. After the first quarter, our defense was very good. There are definitely things to like about the game and hopefully build on.”
The Pistons were unable to build on a 118-112 win over Brooklyn, which kicked off a six-game homestand. They were overwhelmed by Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, losing 142-124.
Doncic set an NBA record with his sixth consecutive 30-point triple-double, as he piled up 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The Mavericks, who shot 55.4 percent from the field, took control by outscoring the Pistons 35-23 in the third quarter.
“I think we had seven turnovers in the third quarter,” Detroit coach Monty Williams said. “Nobody played defense. They didn’t. We didn’t — the whole game. We just turned it over in the third quarter.”
The Pistons were officially listed with six turnovers in the quarter, among their 20 for the game.
Detroit wasted some big performances. Cade Cunningham racked up 33 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. Simone Fontecchio had a career-high 27 points, and James Wiseman notched 17 points and 12 rebounds.
“It felt good, but I wanted to get a win,” Fontecchio said of his big scoring night. “I wanted to get two wins in a row, especially now that we’re home. I think we have to take advantage of that.”
–Field Level Media
