Phoenix Suns Trade for Miles Bridges in Blockbuster Deal

The Phoenix Suns made one of the most notable moves of the 2026 offseason, trading for Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges. The deal was officially completed in July following a two-week hold-up. According to Charlotte Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson, the team had already made up its mind to trade franchise player LaMelo Ball, and the decision to trade Bridges was a direct result of that move.

"If we trade LaMelo (Ball), we're probably trading Miles (Bridges)," Peterson said in a statement. The Hornets did just this, trading Ball just days before the NBA Draft in June. The team drafted point guard Christian Anderson and center Hannes Steinbach, signaling a drastic shift in organizational philosophy.

The Suns sent guard Grayson Allen, forward Royce O'Neale, and a 2033 unprotected first-round draft pick in return for Bridges. The Hornets were seeking one of the pieces the Suns acquiesced in to close the deal - the 2033 draft pick that will possibly haunt the franchise years down the line. While the Suns are never going all-in on tanking under the leadership of Mat Ishbia, the reforming of the draft lottery gives Charlotte stronger odds of striking gold down the line.

What Happened Next?

Bridges' past, both on and off the court, are now coming into the fold in Phoenix, placing immense pressure on him to live up to expectations. General manager Brian Gregory doesn't seem to regret making the move, or parting from the valuable draft selection, at least according to the source during Bridges' introductory press conference in July.

"It was just a perfect fit for us. Everything that we're about as a team when it comes to how you feel when you watch us play -- the grit, the energy, the toughness that we play with, the competitiveness we play with, Miles Bridges brings that every single day when he walks out on the court," Gregory said.

Why it Matters for Phoenix Suns

The immediate on-court kinks to work out revolve around Bridges' offensive portability and defensive versatility. Offensively, he must reconcile his typical high-volume scoring role with serving as a connector alongside offensive engine Devin Booker. Defensively, Bridges is expected to take a step forward in consistently displaying a motor, while also leveraging his elite physical traits to create advantages for the Phoenix offense via turnovers created.

What Comes Next?

The Suns will look to integrate Bridges into their lineup, and see how he fits in with their existing players. With the team's recent form, having lost the last 5 games, they will be looking to get back on track. Ahead of a run of games, you can check on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page to see the Suns' schedule. The team's current standing is 0W-0D-5L (LLLLL), and they will be looking to turn their season around.

Last result: Phoenix Suns 122-131 Oklahoma City Thunder (2026-04-28).