Miles Bridges is currently the Charlotte Hornets' best chance at developing a home-grown All-Star. Before the second-year forward comes close to reaching that potential, though, it's imperative the Hornets begin prioritizing certain aspects of his development. Are they projecting Bridges more as an on-ball creator or off-ball finisher? Are they comfortable with him switching onto smalls out on the perimeter? The answers to those questions won't just help inform the caliber of player Bridges becomes, but also the position at which he ultimately settles in.
With training camp fast approaching, though, Charlotte coach James Borrego is refusing to put Bridges in a box. Asked what position the 2018 lottery pick will play this season, Borrego indicated that Bridges, one of the best all-around athletes in the league, is poised to spend time at both forward spots, while likely starting at the 4.
“I think more playmaking and he’s already doing it,” Borrego said of Bridges, per The Athletic's Roderick Boone. “I’m really excited about his passing ability. This is a versatile forward. I don’t want to call him a ‘4-3.’ I’m leaning more towards playing him at the ‘4’ spot. I think that’s where his advantage is. But don’t be surprised if I slide him back to some ‘3’ as well, and having that ability to make open-floor plays, make plays for others, use his athleticism even more to get to the rim. And I think that’s where his most significant jump is.”
The No. 12 overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, Bridges averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game as a rookie, shooting 46.4 percent overall and 32.5 percent from three-point range. He started the last 25 games of the season in place of Jeremy Lamb, slotting next to Marvin Williams in interchangeable roles at forward.
Expect Bridges to put up much bigger numbers in 2019-20 as the Hornets' long-awaited rebuild finally begins.
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