NBA Trade Rumors: Hornets Eyeing to Offload 21.7 PPG Forward to Finally Break Decade-Long Playoff Drought Amid Rebuild Buzz

The Charlotte Hornets will reportedly make Miles Bridges available in trade talks. According to Forbes' Evan Sidery on Tuesday, the Hornets will gauge the market for the 27-year-old forward.

"The Hornets plan to shop Miles Bridges during trade season," Sidery tweeted. "After nearly being traded before last deadline, Charlotte plans to explore potential deals yet again for Bridges."

Through 21 games this season, Bridges is Charlotte's leading scorer, averaging a career-high 21.7 points per game. He also contributes 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

While Bridges will surely attract teams looking to add a solid contributor, Sidery noted that his salary could be a hurdle. Bridges earns $25 million this season, the second year of his three-year, $75 million contract.

Bridges has also been the subject of trade rumors last season as Charlotte mulls a rebuild. The Hornets finished 19-63 in 2024-25, and are 6-15 to start this season.

Miles Bridges has spent his entire career with Charlotte. He was drafted by the LA Clippers as the 12th pick of the 2018 NBA draft, and was traded to the Hornets in exchange for reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

An NBA insider has a question for the Hornets amid a dismal start

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball has been the subject of rumors recently, as he is reportedly "open" to being traded. However, Ball and the Hornets have denied the reports in the past. On Monday's episode of his show, NBA insider Zach Lowe said that while Ball intends to remain in Charlotte, one question needs to be asked.

"I do think we are going to hear some LaMelo noise," Lowe said. "He rebutted a report that he wanted out of Charlotte. I actually believe him, that he doesn't want out of Charlotte. I think the more interesting question is, what does Charlotte want?"

While Lowe said that Ball could attract teams in need of a point guard, teams will have difficulty navigating his contract. The 24-year-old star is just on the second season of his five-year, $203.9 million contract.

Should Charlotte continue to lose this season, it makes sense that the franchise will hit the reset button despite having a relatively young roster. Trading Ball and Miles Bridges could give the team more assets. The Hornets could also elect to build around 2025 No. 4 Kon Knueppel and 2023 No. 2 pick Brandon Miller.