Hornets exercise options on Washington, Bridges

Rockets Hornets Basketball

Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington, right, drives into Houston Rockets forward DeMarre Carroll during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, March 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Hornets have exercised the third-year contract option on forward PJ Washington and the fourth-year option on forward Miles Bridges.

Neither move Wednesday comes as a surprise as both appear to figure into the team’s long-term plans.

Washington, a projected starter this season, enters his second NBA season after starting 57 games as a rookie. He averaged 12.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 30.3 minutes per game and…