The NBA began its second week of training camp as the teams get ready for the upcoming regular season. Here’s the latest happening around the league with less than two weeks remaining before the season tips off.

Hornets And Bridges Allow Qualifying Offer To Expire

The Charlotte Hornets and Miles Bridges have allowed his $7.9 million qualifying offer to expire, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent. However, the team has not decided whether or not they will bring him back and could negotiate a new contract pending the status of his ongoing court case. He is facing three felony charges related to him allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in front of their two children in July.

Bridges had a breakout season last year for the Hornets when he led the team with 20.2 points per game. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 7, meaning his chances of rejoining the team before the start of the regular season will be in doubt, as will his future in the NBA.

He is facing one felony count of injuring a child’s parent and two felony counts of child abuse. Unless his case is pushed back again, it will become more apparent on Friday what his future holds in the league. 

Towns Hopes To Be Ready For Season Opener

The Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns was recently released from the hospital after being hospitalized with a throat infection which left him bedridden and with difficulty breathing. He has yet to report to training camp and reportedly lost 17 pounds while dealing with the illness. As a result, he didn’t play in the Wolves’ preseason opener on Tuesday, and it’s still unclear whether he’ll be ready for the regular season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 19.

“I’m just taking my time, let the docs and my body take its course and do what it needs to do to get back,” said Towns following his release from the hospital. The illness shouldn’t be a long-term problem, but it isn’t how Towns, and the Wolves want to start this season after making significant changes that will vault them into the championship conversation.

The team is learning how they will integrate their newest acquisition, Rudy Gobert, into their strategy. Towns is facing a big adjustment with him now in their lineup and has missed out on crucial court time with his newest teammate. 

Herro Signs Extension With Heat

Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat recently agreed on a four-year $130 million extension as the guard was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract. Instead, the league’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year will be with the team through the 2026-27 season, averaging a salary of more than $32 million per year. He’s the first Heat player to earn any season award since LeBron James won MVP for Miami in 2013. 

The 22-year-old averaged a career-high 20.7 points per game last season and became one of only two players to score more than 1,000 points coming off the bench. The Heat have also made the postseason in each of his first three seasons. Miami made it to the NBA Finals in 2020, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. They made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, where they lost to the Boston Celtics after entering the playoffs with the top seed in the conference.