Phoenix Suns Executive Explains Logic Behind Controversial Offseason Trade

Eight weeks remain until the Phoenix Suns are set to hold the kicking off of the 2026-27 season with media day and the opening of training camp. 

The ushering in of the new season comes with much intrigue, as questions are lingering around the trade for Miles Bridges that was officially completed three weeks ago.

Josh Bartelstein - President/CEO of the Suns - went on the local "Burns and Gambo" show on Tuesday to explain the rationale behind Phoenix trading for the former 2018 lottery selection. This includes the change in how teams are approaching roster construction. 

"The league right now has evolved so much. Where the league was three or four years ago was where shooting was in high demand. Of course, you want to have shooters. If you watch what's happening now, it's guys you can get downhill, get two feet in the paint. It's guys who can guard multiple positions. It's athletic specimens who can go meet you at the rim and block your shot. Got to be able to attack and play off closeouts and spray the ball around."

Bartelstein seems to be alluding to the most successful teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks. The three best squads in the league on paper have doubled down on becoming much more physical as a response to the three-point revolution. The three-ball is still a vital part of the game, but the very areas that Bartelstein stressed as being crucial are becoming more of an emphasis.

Bartelstein then expanded upon why Bridges fits the billing to build off of this roster-building archetype. 

"Miles does all that. We still think there's more we can bring out of Miles. So for us, it was a combination of what he's accomplished in Charlotte, us putting him in our system around the guys we have, how he fits with Devin (Booker) and Dillon (Brooks) and Jalen (Green), and our belief in what we can make of him long-term, and I think you're going to see as talented as he was in Charlotte, how he helped his impact on winning there, which is the most important stat. We can do even more of."

There are many critiques that followed Bridges to Phoenix, one of which includes his shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball. Bridges was typically an average at-best defender in Charlotte despite being a plus athlete that was placed in favorable situations on average. 

Bridges - in theory - should be a bruising, high-flying star that fits alongside an elevated playmaker such as Booker. However, his limitations as a three-point shooter and gradually decreasing rim pressure rate are data points of concern. All in all, Bridges brings a mixed bag of results from the past to Phoenix, and this trade was very likely to be financially motivated just as much as a roster fit.

The belief that Bridges will be able to integrate into Jordan Ott's rotation relatively seamlessly is a blind-faith decision that was made by Phoenix's front office, but an increase in motor and activity from the wing would result in proving the decision makers correct.