The Phoenix Suns aren’t content with their current roster, despite riding a seven-game win streak entering tonight’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers. Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges is on the Suns’ trade radar, as reported by the Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin.
NBA Rumors: Suns Interested in Controversial Star
Suns Trade Options
Acquiring Bridges before the February 8th trade deadline certainly presents a challenge. The Suns only have second rounders to work with. They traded all their available first round picks to acquire Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
The best trade Phoenix could offer Charlotte is probably several picks packaged together with Bol Bol and/or Nassir Little.
Bol has struggled to find adequate playing time in Phoenix, appearing in only 12 games. The 7’2 forward from Oregon has undoubted potential, but has been unable to lock down a consistent role throughout his five-year NBA career. The Hornets are clearly in rebuilding mode, especially after trading away Terry Rozier.
Bol will be a free agent after this season, and would represent a low-risk, high-reward acquisition for Charlotte. Throughout his career, Bol has averaged 6.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in just 14.2 minutes per game.
Miles Bridges Contract Situation
If the Suns did land Bridges in a trade, he would almost certainly be a rental until the end of the season.
Bridges signed a one-year, $7.92 million qualifying offer last summer. He will be a free agent this summer, and will likely look for a lucrative, long-term deal. His legal issues will certainly affect his earning potential, but he will be out of Phoenix’s price range regardless. The Suns are currently $21.5 million over the luxury tax.
If Charlotte is intent on moving Bridges before the deadline, they may well lower their asking price, as Rankin noted.
“The trade deadline is still two weeks away. If the Hornets get down to the final hours and aren’t receiving any offers for Bridges to their likening, they may just decide to move him for little or nearly nothing.”
Miles Bridges History
Bridges was arrested on June 29, 2022 for assaulting Mychelle Johnson, his former partner and mother of his two children. After pleading to a no contest in court, Bridges received three years of probation. He missed the entire 2022-23 season after the NBA suspended him for 30 games, 10 of which carried into 2023-24.
Bridges then violated the terms of his probation in October of 2023, when he threatened Johnson. He also physically damaged the car that Johnson and Bridges’ kids were in, and was charged with child abuse and injury to personal property. The troubled Hornets star then turned himself in to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office.
The NBA chose to not extend his suspension, and Bridges returned to play on November 17th in a 130-99 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The former Michigan State Spartan is averaging 20.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
The Suns are 26-18, sitting 5th in the Western Conference.