Grading Phoenix Suns' Trade for Star Forward Miles Bridges

The Phoenix Suns are continuing to swing for the fences during the 2026 offseason - with the franchise building off of re-signing three key players from the 2025-26 season by making a seismic trade on Sunday. 

The Suns have reportedly acquired a player they have long coveted in Charlotte Hornets F Miles Bridges for a 2033 first round pick, Grayson Allen, and Royce O'Neale. 

There's much to unpack with this deal, as Bridges is a polarizing player and Phoenix just departed with two players that are deeply respected within the community - follow the step-by-step grading process below. 

The Good

The process that the Suns utilized to get a deal done is sound. Phoenix acquired a 2029 first round pick in the trade as well, which means that the organization controls their first round selections for the next three drafts - potentially paving the way for another trade down the line. The 2027 second round pick also becomes an intriguing trade chip in future months and potentially on draft night 2027, especially after seeing the trade-up for Koa Peat last week. 

The other wins that could be stacked up here are that the Suns have now cleared a roster spot open to bring in a free agent that can both contribute to winning in the present while providing promise for the future as well. Ishbia also saves nearly $20 million on the tax bill as well, which likely opens up more flexibility in the future for a steward that is delighted to spend on average.

The Questionable

Right off the bat, the Suns have an inherent PR issue, as Bridges has faced much scrutiny for off-the-court issues in recent years. Phoenix will have to sell the fanbase that he is a strong cultural fit and that the past won't repeat itself. 

The other concern rests in Bridges not having a reputation of being a "team-ball" player - he typically doesn't put in much effort on the defensive side of the ball and hasn't ever served as a strong connector of an offense on the perimeter. Contrast this with Allen/O'Neale, and it's easy to see why Suns fans might be unsatisfied with the framework of the deal.

Ultimately, Bridges is a wildly talented player that is moving into a stronger culture, while the Suns opened up roster flexibility this summer and continue to haul in assets for a much more significant move down the line.

Grade: B-, but there is room for improvement over time

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Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable. He can be reached on X @khicks_21.