Miles Bridges pursuit reportedly three-team race between Hornets, Pacers, Grizzlies

On Wednesday, Bleacher Report NBA Insider Jake Fischer reported that the Indiana Pacers could actually be in play for the forward. “The Pacers have mulled over making Bridges an offer, sources told B/R, but it’s unclear whether Indiana will actually be willing to add such an expensive piece into their rebuild,” Fischer wrote.

The Pacers have never really been a team to shell out big bucks for top free agents in any given offseason. And with the Charlotte Hornets having the chance to match any offer, an interested team would likely need to offer Bridges at least a deal worth more than $25 million annually.

Darkhorse contender the Memphis Grizzles can’t sign Bridges outright, but Fischer claims there have been rumblings they could pursue him nonetheless. “League executives have long painted Memphis as a sleeper candidate to make a bid for Bridges, where he could join his Spartans teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. However, that rumored Grizzlies interest has been repeatedly shot down by league figures with knowledge of the situation.”

Lastly, there are the Hornets. The team with which Bridges has played his entire career. Fischer reports the team has long made it clear they plan to match any offer made by rival teams. And as the recent employer of Bridges, the NBA CBA allows them to offer the most money annually — $30 million — and an extra year.

However, since Jalen Brunson is likely to take less money and years by choosing the New York Knicks over the Dallas Mavericks, it can’t be ruled out that Bridges could do the same to play elsewhere.