The Charlotte Hornets are starting to show some fight.
Saturday’s win over the Washington Wizards marked their second straight victory, and while a two-game streak might not turn heads in a vacuum, it’s the bigger picture that’s worth paying attention to. Over their last 15 games, when they've had something resembling a healthy roster, the Hornets have quietly put together one of the league’s most efficient offenses and net ratings. That’s not a fluke-it's a sign of what this group is capable of when the pieces are actually on the floor.
But catching fire now doesn’t erase the slow start. Charlotte dug itself a hole early, going 6-14 through October and November.
That stumble has them sitting at 18-28, good for 12th in the Eastern Conference. And in a crowded East, that’s a tough spot to be in-especially with the trade deadline looming on February 5.
Naturally, that’s led to plenty of trade buzz. The Hornets are widely expected to explore deals involving some of their veterans, with an eye toward stockpiling future assets and continuing their rebuild. One name that keeps surfacing is Miles Bridges.
Bridges, now 27, is in the final year of his current deal and is set to make $22.8 million next season. He’s the kind of player who could draw interest from playoff-bound teams looking for a versatile forward who can score and defend.
But despite the rumors, Bridges isn’t pushing for the exit. In fact, he’s made it clear he’d prefer to stay in Charlotte.
“If I get traded, if I don’t get traded… I would rather be here,” Bridges said. “But I know if I do get traded, I know Jeff Peterson and those guys, they’ll talk to me first.
So, I don’t try to worry about that. I just worry about the games.”
That’s the kind of mindset coaches and teammates appreciate-focused, professional, and locked in on what’s happening on the court, not in the front office. And for what it’s worth, Bridges has been a steady presence in a season filled with lineup shuffles and injury setbacks.
As the deadline approaches, the Hornets find themselves in a familiar spot: balancing the desire to compete now with the need to build for the future. The next week or so could shape the trajectory of their season-and maybe even the next few years.
In the meantime, they’ll look to keep the momentum going when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Due to weather concerns, tipoff has been moved up to 3 p.m.
EST. It’s another opportunity for this young, evolving team to show what it can do when the pieces start to click.