The Phoenix Suns finally got their guy. After years of chasing Miles Bridges, they pulled the trigger on a deal that sends the forward to the desert along with a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick. In return, the Charlotte Hornets get Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and a 2033 first-round pick that has no protections whatsoever. Shams Charania broke the news.
On the surface, this is a classic win-now move for a franchise that’s been all-in since the Kevin Durant trade. Bridges gives Phoenix something it hasn’t had in a while: a true perimeter scorer who can crash the glass and play above the rim. He’s not just a dunker either. His game has rounded out over the last few seasons in Charlotte. He can create his own shot, which matters when the offense stagnates and Devin Booker draws a double team.
But here’s where it gets messy. The Suns already have a logjam at forward. Ryan Dunn. Rasheer Fleming. Dillon Brooks. Even rookie Koa Peat is in the mix. That’s a lot of bodies for two spots. Phoenix is betting that Bridges is simply better than all of them, which might be true, but it still leaves a rotation puzzle for head coach Jordan Ott to solve.
Financially, the trade makes some sense. The Suns save roughly $20 million in luxury tax penalties and open up a roster spot before free agency. That’s real money, even for a team owned by Mat Ishbia. But giving up Allen and O’Neale stings more than the cap sheet suggests. Allen just had a career season, shooting nearly 42% from three while battling through injuries. O’Neale set a personal best from deep at 41%. Losing two of the league’s most reliable three-point shooters is a blow, especially in a Western Conference where every possession matters.
Suns grade: B+
It’s a good move, not a great one. Bridges fills a need and comes with a $22 million cap hit that expires after the 2026-27 season. That’s manageable. But the 2033 pick is totally unprotected. If everything goes sideways in Phoenix and the Suns enter a full rebuild, that pick could be a lottery ticket for Charlotte. It’s the kind of detail that haunts front offices years down the line.
Still, for a team that expects to compete right now, Bridges is an upgrade. He’s athletic, he’s versatile, and he’s proven he can carry a scoring load. The question is whether he can fit alongside Booker, Durant, and Bradley Beal without stepping on toes. That’s a lot of mouths to feed.
Hornets grade: A
Charlotte looks like the clear winner here. The Hornets made the Play-In tournament last season and got bounced early by the Magic, but the future is bright. Kon Knueppel emerged as a legit No. 2 option, and Brandon Miller has taken over as the primary scoring forward. Bridges was starting to fade out of the offensive picture anyway.
So the Hornets flipped an expiring contract into two veterans who can actually help. Allen connects immediately with Knueppel thanks to their Duke connection. O’Neale is the kind of glue guy every young team needs: elite shooter, solid defender, and on a friendly contract at roughly $12 million per year for the next two seasons. He can mentor the kids without demanding the ball.
And that 2033 pick is the cherry on top. If Phoenix falls apart, Charlotte gets a shot at a potential franchise-changer. That’s the kind of asset that can accelerate a rebuild into something real. For a team that just made the Play-In, getting two impact players and a future unprotected first-rounder for a guy who was already being phased out is an absolute steal.
The Hornets added shooting, defense, and a lottery ticket. That’s how you build something sustainable.
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