The early returns on the Miles Bridges deal are turning ugly for the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix sent Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and an unprotected first-round pick in 2033 to Charlotte for Bridges, and that price is starting to look steep fast. Bridges has opened his Suns stint on a rocky note, while both Allen and O'Neale have come out of the gate making real noise for the Hornets.
Charlotte decided over the summer that the right move was to move on from Bridges and LaMelo Ball and build around veteran pieces who understand their jobs. So far, that bet has paid off.
Allen has already become the kind of instant-fire bench scorer the Hornets wanted, and he’s delivered some memorable moments along the way, including the one that had Eric Collins screaming, "GRAYSON ALLEN! YESSSSS!
CHICKEN SALAD!"
That’s been the headline act, but the production has backed it up. Allen is averaging 17.3 points per game through three games, which is a career high in that tiny sample, and he’s hitting an absurd 50 percent from three while taking eight attempts a night. Charlotte is 2-1, and Allen gave them 20 points in 34 minutes off the bench in a win over the Miami Heat.
O'Neale hasn’t flashed in the same loud way, but he’s been exactly the kind of steady presence the Hornets were after. His box score numbers have barely stood out, yet Charlotte has won the stretches when he’s on the floor. He posted a plus-4 against Miami and a plus-15 in the Hornets’ win over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Suns had reasons to make the move, including the salary crunch and the need to free up more minutes for younger players who are developing. But when a deal sends out two useful veterans and a first-round pick for a player already looking toward an extension, the margin for error disappears quickly.
For now, Charlotte looks like the team that walked away from the table smiling. And if this start holds, the Hornets may have found exactly the kind of reliable contributors they were after.
In Other News...
Suns Could Already Have A Trade Opportunity Fans Didn't See Coming
The Suns may already have a little roster-business wrinkle on their hands as Orlando weighs an answer to Jalen Suggs injury. Phoenix has both Jordan Goodwin and Jamaree Bouyea available, and either name could draw attention from a Magic team looking to stabilize its backcourt without overcommitting resources. For the Suns, it is the kind of opportunity that can appear quickly in the margins, especially when they are sorting out a roster built around veterans and asset management.
Goodwin stands out as the more valuable piece after recently signing a three-year contract, while Bouyea looks like the more affordable route if Orlando wants a lower-cost addition. Phoenix has other veterans on the roster who could also attract interest as teams around the league start searching for solutions, and this is the sort of situation where a small transaction can turn into a meaningful one. The question now is whether the Suns see a chance to keep one of those guards or use the market to add more future value. [Read more 🡒]
Shawn Marion Just Reopened A Hall Of Fame Debate In Phoenix
Shawn Marions return to the Suns building before the home opener against the Golden State Warriors served as a reminder of how much his career still resonates in Phoenix. Honored in front of the home crowd, Marion looked back on the defensive identity that made him such a unique force in the NBA, while also reflecting on how different eras shape the way players are remembered. He spoke with clear appreciation for the franchises history and the former Suns who helped define it.
Marion also touched on the Hall of Fame conversation that continues to follow him, and he didnt shy away from the idea that league politics can shape that process. For a player whose value was never always captured by the usual stat-line conversation, the timing of his comments only sharpened the debate around his place in basketball history. In Phoenix, where he remains one of the most memorable figures of that era, the conversation is hardly going away. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Starters Have An Early Problem The Bench Isn't Showing
The early returns have left Phoenix with an unusual twist: the starting group is still trying to sort out its chemistry, even as the season gets going. New pieces have changed the mix, and the Suns have already felt the effects on both ends of the floor, where communication and coordination are still works in progress. It is the kind of issue that can take time to smooth out, especially when roles are still being defined.
Devin Booker pointed to the second unit as the steadier group right now, with the bench showing a better grasp of responsibilities and a clearer sense of how to play together. For the Suns, that creates an interesting imbalance. The unit that most teams count on to set the tone is still searching for its rhythm, while the group behind it looks more settled, and the fix may simply come down to more practice and more time together. [Read more 🡒]