3 ways to estimate how much Miles Bridges should be paid this offseason

Method #3: Looking At Recent Precedent

Since the NBA and the National Basketball Player’s Association (NBPA) recently agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement last April, the only offseason that compares to the financial landscape we’ll be dealing with this free agency period is last offseason. So, let’s focus on similar examples from the Summer of 2023.

Last offseason, a handful of starting-caliber power forwards who give you a blend of shooting, size, secondary rim protection, athleticism, and closeout attacking signed new contracts. Kyle Kuzma signed a contract paying him 16.5% of the 2023-24 salary cap. Rui Hachimura signed one paying him 12.5% of the cap. And P.J. Washington, Bridges' former teammate, signed one for 11.4% of the cap.

When adjusted for this season's salary cap, all these contracts are (again) above the NTML — roughly between 16.1 (11.4% of the cap) and 23.3 million dollars next year (16.5%).

The Bottom Line

All three of our methods resulted in a number that is well over what the Kings can offer Bridges with the NTML. On the surface, that does not bode well for Sacramento.

The saving grace here is that there are only six teams (outside of Bridges' current employer) with real cap space this summer, meaning only a handful of teams can offer Bridges more than the Kings can, and with names like Paul Goerge, James Harden, OG Anunoby, and DeMar DeRozan on the market, it is unlikely that teams will prioritize Bridges.

The Charlotte Hornets (the current employer) can easily offer him a deal with an average annual value that is more than twice as much as the NTML, as they retain his Full Bird Rights. Given how much money Bridges has lost from missing over a season of earnings, he may opt to stick with the Hornets (despite their lack of direction) to secure the best possible payday.

Overall, it seems improbable that the Kings will have the funds to land Bridges, but I guess we will just have to wait and see.