Miles Bridges came into the offseason as the Suns’ headline addition, the player Phoenix paid a 2033 first-round pick to land. But even before training camp begins, his grip on a starting job might not be as firm as it looks.
The threat comes from rookie Koa Peat, a bouncy forward the Suns clearly see as more than a developmental piece. Phoenix was linked to Aaron Gordon before acquiring Bridges, and Peat appears to be the player they targeted to capture some of that same value: a physical four who can handle bigger bodies, move well on the perimeter, and do the dirty work on both ends.
That matters because Coach Jordan Ott clearly wants defense to travel. The Suns finished ninth in defensive rating last season at 112.9 points allowed per night, and Bridges does not give them much help there. Peat, on the other hand, could fit that vision far better.
The other issue is balance. Phoenix’s current starting group has real spacing questions, and the team did not surrender that much to bring Bridges in only to send him to the bench. The obvious alternative would be doing that to Jalen Green instead, which would also make him the least productive of the players the Suns received for Kevin Durant.
Still, Bridges is expected to start when the season opens. The problem is that Phoenix has several high-usage scorers in the mix, with four members of the projected starting five having averaged more than 20 points per game in the recent past. That means sacrifices are coming somewhere, and Peat could be the cleanest solution if he proves ready.
His appeal is simple. He would do the physical work, provide a live lob target, and not require the offense to be built around him. In a lineup with Booker and Dillon Brooks, that kind of role could be exactly what makes the whole thing click.
Ott’s track record suggests he leans on veterans when he wants regular-season wins, and that approach helped shape his first year in charge. But the Suns have spent recent drafts trying to add young talent, and if Peat is the latest success, Ott may have to make a difficult call sooner than later.
Bridges is also set to pursue an extension, and all signs point to Phoenix being willing to give it to him. Even so, if Peat immediately looks like Aaron Gordon-lite and starts fitting cleaner next to Booker and Brooks, Bridges’ hold on the job could get shaky fast. He could also help bring out more from center Khaman Maluach with his forceful style around the rim.
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Miles Bridges Changes The Suns Question Dillon Brooks Now Faces
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Suns Trades With Charlotte May Be Fueling A Twist Fans Wont Like
Phoenix has spent the past couple of seasons doing business with Charlotte in a way that has quietly reshaped both frontcourts. The Suns brought in Nick Richards, Mark Williams and Miles Bridges from the Hornets, moves that helped stock the roster with size and options up front while giving Charlotte a fresh batch of pieces to work with as it keeps tinkering with its own direction.
Now there is a new layer to watch, and it could give Suns fans pause. The Hornets have remained in the conversation for Domantas Sabonis, and the path to getting there may be tied to some of the very players Phoenix has already sent their way. Nothing is official, and Sabonis has not been moved, but the idea that the Suns' recent swaps could end up helping Charlotte chase a former All-Star adds an unexpected twist to a familiar trade partner relationship. [Read more 🡒]