Hornets moving towards reunion with Miles Bridges

Two days before Bridges was about to become a restricted free agent, he assaulted his then-girlfriend, in front of their two children. Bridges fractured her nose, bloodied her ear, and left her with a strained neck, a concussion, and bruised ribs in an attack that included strangulation. 

Afterward, she posted graphic photos of her injuries on Instagram. "I hate that it has come to this but I can’t be silent anymore. I’ve allowed someone to destroy my home, abuse me in every way possible and traumatize our kids for life," she wrote on Instagram. "I have nothing to prove to the world, but I won’t allow anyone who could do something so horrible to have no remorse and paint a picture of something I’m not." (The post has since been deleted.)

After his arrest on felony charges, no NBA team signed Bridges in free agency - as a restricted free agent, Charlotte had the right to match any contract offer. However, Charlotte never pulled their one-year, $8 million qualifying offer.

In November, Bridges reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in Los Angeles where he pled no contest to a felony count of injuring a child's parent. In exchange, the prosecutors dropped the other two felony charges and the enhancement for delivering great bodily injury to a victim. Bridges received three years of probation and agreed to 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling, 52 weeks of parenting classes, and 100 hours of community service.

Bridges also received a protective order, requiring him to stay 100 yards away from his victim for ten years. He will also be subject to weekly drug tests for the duration of his probation term.

The NBA is still continuing its investigation of the Bridges case, and he is sure to face some sort of suspension and/or fine from the league. NBA justice moves slowly, though. The league took ten months to suspend Suns owner Robert Sarver after ESPN published the first account of his misconduct.

It seems unlikely Bridges would suit up for Charlotte any time soon, given his need to get in NBA shape and the probable suspension. The league suspended Charlotte's Jeff Taylor 24 games in 2014, Ron Artest got seven games for domestic violence in 2007, and Willie Reid of the Pistons got suspended in 2017 for domestic violence - but got released before actually serving the suspension.

Bridges was in line for a contract that could have been more than $100 million for four years before the assault. Now, it should be decidedly less. After reading the medical report, it's hard to imagine an NBA team would want Bridges back in their locker room, but the NBA forgives a great deal if a player can average 20 points a game.

And Bridges will help the Hornets, who have stunk this season. But ignoring Bridges' abuse stinks even worse.