The Charlotte Hornets are not done this offseason. Just days after shipping out LaMelo Ball, the team agreed to send Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns in a multi-pick swap that caught plenty of the league’s attention.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Sunday that Charlotte will send Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-rounder to Phoenix. In return, the Hornets get Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and a 2033 first-round pick. That’s a lot of moving parts, and the trade gives both sides something they needed.
For Charlotte, this was always the more expected move. Bridges had an expiring contract and his age — he turns 27 next month — didn’t really line up with the roster the front office is building around younger pieces like Brandon Miller and 2025 lottery pick Kon Knueppel. Plus, his off-court history made him a complicated piece to build around long-term. Moving him now frees up cap flexibility and adds two reliable shooters in Allen and O’Neale, both of whom can stretch the floor and play off the ball. The Hornets already have shooters. They needed more of them, actually.
What’s interesting is how both first-round picks here are far out. The 2029 pick from Charlotte and the 2033 one from Phoenix won’t convey for years. That’s a bet on the future for both teams and a way to make the numbers work without giving up immediate draft capital. Allen and O’Neale are both on expiring or near-expiring deals, so Charlotte keeps its books clean.
On the Phoenix side, this is about upgrading the frontcourt and adding some juice. Bridges is one of the most explosive transition players in the league. He can finish above the rim, get his own shot in the half court, and guard multiple positions when he’s locked in. The Suns gave up two useful wings to get him but they get back a guy who can start at the four and slide Kevin Durant to the three or play small with Bridges at the five in stretches. It’s not a perfect fit but it gives coach Mike Budenholzer more options.
Phoenix also adds a second-rounder and consolidates its roster a bit. They’ve been hunting for more athleticism all offseason. Bridges brings that in spades.
For Charlotte, the big question now is how do they score in the half court without Ball or Bridges? Miller and Knueppel can shoot but neither creates off the dribble like those two could. The Hornets have cap room and a few trade exceptions, so free agency — which opens Tuesday night — will tell us a lot about their next move.
Neither team is done. Expect more moves before the week’s out.
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