Old decisions have a way of resurfacing at the worst possible time. For the Los Angeles Lakers, that moment is arriving just as trade talks around Miles Bridges begin to heat up. Nearly a year after a failed deal fractured trust between two front offices, the Lakers now find themselves circling another Charlotte Hornets player. This time, however, the history matters as much as the fit.

And according to a Lakers insider, that history could quietly derail the pursuit before it ever becomes real. Two weeks after the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic in February 2025, Miles Bridges delivered a pointed reminder of unfinished business. Bridges scored 29 points to lift the Charlotte Hornets to a 100–97 win over Los Angeles.

Just days earlier, a trade sending Hornets center Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers had been rescinded after Williams failed his physical. Charlotte was frustrated. Williams was insulted. The relationship took a hit.

Fast-forward to January 2026, and Bridges is back in the conversation. As soon as he climbed to third place on the Hornets’ all-time scoring list, speculation linking him to the Lakers intensified.

On paper, the interest makes sense. In reality, fit is not the obstacle.

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The Lakers do not urgently need another high-usage scorer, particularly with Austin Reaves returning to the lineup alongside Doncic. Bridges also does little to solve Los Angeles’ defensive issues. Yet, according to insider discussions, basketball fit is secondary. The real challenge is relational.

Trevor Lane, who discussed the situation alongside Jovan Buha and referenced recent conversations he had on Charlotte radio, addressed that dynamic. “I said, ‘Will the Hornets deal with the Lakers after what happened last year?’” Lane said. “I tend to think yes, but are they giving the Lakers a great deal?”

The answer, as Lane framed it, hinges on trust. Lane did not downplay the tension stemming from the rescinded Mark Williams trade. Instead, he described it as unresolved but not disqualifying. “Is there animosity still towards the league? Oh, I’m sure,” Lane said. “Is there animosity still towards the Lakers because of the rescinded Mark Williams trade? I’m sure. But if a team has the right deal sitting in front of them, they’re going to do the deal.”

That caveat matters. Charlotte may be open to moving Bridges, but insiders believe the Hornets would play hardball with Los Angeles. Any Lakers offer would likely come at a premium. Complicating matters further, other teams are monitoring Bridges. Reports suggest the Golden State Warriors could enter the mix, raising the possibility that Charlotte leverages outside interest to drive up the price.

The Cost of Burned Bridges between the Lakers and the Hornets

Lane outlined why Bridges appeals to the Lakers in the first place. “I think he fits, maybe not in a defensive sense,” Lane said. “But he fits with his three-point shooting, his ability to score, and the fact that he’s a wing who could solve some bench scoring issues.” The issue is cost. Bridges carries a $25 million salary, a significant hurdle for a cap-restricted Lakers team. Matching that figure would require multiple outgoing pieces.

Names floated in speculation include Rui Hachimura, Bronny James, and, most notably, Dalton Knecht. Knecht’s inclusion would sting. At the time of the Mark Williams deal, he was on a strong rookie run that drew public praise from veterans like Charles Barkley. When the trade was rescinded 48 hours later, Knecht returned to Los Angeles, while Charlotte felt the Lakers had second-guessed the deal.

The Lakers did not become “mortal enemies” with the Hornets. Business is still possible. But the margin for error is thinner than it would be with most teams.

Rob Pelinka’s decision to walk away from the Mark Williams trade created lasting skepticism. Pursuing Bridges reopens that file at the worst possible moment, when leverage is already limited, and competition is growing. If the Lakers push forward, they may have to overpay. If they hesitate, another suitor could step in. Either way, the past is no longer background noise. It is shaping the present, and it may ultimately decide whether this trade ever gets off the ground.