With the NBA trade deadline approaching, Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges has come up in rumors, and the Phoenix Suns are among the teams being linked to the 25-year-old.
According to a report, the Suns feel comfortable giving up assets to acquire Bridges, who is set to become a free agent in the 2024 offseason.
The Suns plan to be active on the trade and buyout market to tweak their roster, per @Gambo987 (https://t.co/bJdD4jkFuz).
Miles Bridges is a legitimate target who they feel comfortable giving up assets for, even as a rental for the remainder of this season.
Bridges has a full… pic.twitter.com/YL7fSon2Gt
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) January 24, 2024
Any team that potentially trades for Bridges is certain to make a lot of headlines after the forward was handed legal repercussions and an NBA suspension due to a domestic violence incident involving his former girlfriend. Many fans feel that the former lottery pick shouldn’t even be in the NBA today.
But it seems like there is a market for his services, and it will be interesting to see if any team is willing to acquire him despite the negative attention that would almost certainly come with such a move.
Bridges is averaging 20.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this season while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from 3-point range. His scoring average is a career-high.
The Hornets are one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference at 10-31, so it may be in their best interest to unload some expiring contracts and bring back some new assets.
The Suns, meanwhile, have title hopes this season and are several games over .500 at 25-18, but they seemingly haven’t played to their full potential just yet. Perhaps the team feels like a deal for Bridges would get things moving in the right direction.
Phoenix won a playoff series last season before bowing out to the Denver Nuggets in the second round. The Suns have a talented roster, and they’re hoping to make a deeper run this season.
The trade deadline is set for Feb. 8, leaving teams with a couple more weeks before time runs out. Bridges has only played for the Hornets in his NBA career, but it seems like that could change in the near future. His situation will be worth monitoring for more reasons than one.
