Lakers News: Rumored LA Trade Prospect Refusing To Be Dealt
With his sights set on unrestricted free agency and preserving his Bird rights, Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges has informed the Hornets that he will refuse any possible deadline trade, his agent Rich Paul informs Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Paul is a close friend of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, and Paul's agency Klutch Sports represents several current LA players.
Earlier this week, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reported that the Phoenix Suns had been pushing to acquire Bridges, hot off consecutive 40+ point games in two losses this week. Bridges may be the team's most polished healthy player (All-Star LaMelo Ball, as usual, is hurt), but he's got some brutal off-court behavioral baggage that should give any sensible team pause.
LA was creepily linked to Bridges as a possible trade destination already, and although the basketball and financial fits are nuts (he's on a $7.9 million expiring deal) as a big, athletic, positionally versatile scorer, his personal life is deeply unappetizing.
In between his various court appearances, the unlovable 6'7" combo forward has made time to average 21.9 points on .464/.369/.862 shooting splits, 7.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, one steal and 0.6 blocks a night.
Here's hoping he never dons the purple and gold.
