The Miles Bridges era with the Phoenix Suns has gotten off to a rocky start, and that unprotected first-round pick in 2033 they gave up for his services is looking worse by the day. The Suns also traded away two of their top-eight players, Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, as part of the deal, and with both off to strong starts with the Charlotte Hornets, it is already putting the Bridges trade under huge pressure to work out.
Hornets have pair of veterans contributing to winning ways
The Hornets felt the time was right over the summer to move on from Bridges and LaMelo Ball and instead lean on veteran guys who know their role and come to play every night. Both Allen and O'Neale have instantly contributed in that department, with Allen in particular producing some eye-catching moments, including the following.
🗣️ Eric Collins: "GRAYSON ALLEN! YESSSSS! CHICKEN SALAD!" 🤯 pic.twitter.com/M1PmYJhV8U
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) October 25, 2026
He is their flamethrower off the bench who is capable of piling up points in a hurry, just as he was when he was in Phoenix. The key difference is that the Hornets don't need to have him start from time to time, whereas the Suns did when the likes of Bradley Beal were also in town. A painful time we would rather not revisit, thank you very much.
Allen's 17.3 points per game through a small, three-game sample size represent a career high, while he is shooting an absurd 50 percent from deep on eight attempts each game. The Hornets sit 2-1 and recently contributed to the woeful beginning of the season for the Miami Heat as they dispatched them. Allen gave his new team 20 points in 34 minutes off the bench.
O'Neale has been more subtle in how he has helped, and although his own personal numbers have barely been a factor, the Hornets generally win the portions of the game that he plays. Against the Heat, he finished with a +4, while in their other victory over the Brooklyn Nets, he was a +15. Brilliant additions for a Hornets franchise that has become more serious about winning.
Suns traded duo for wrong player at wrong time
The Suns had to move on from both Allen and O'Neale because of the salary crunch and rapidly developing players on their roster who needed more minutes. But giving them both up for a guy in Bridges, who is now looking for his own extension, already looks foolish, and that is before you include the first-round pick in 2033 as part of the package.
The front office has generally done a wonderful job in picking up players that other teams later end up needing badly, but on this occasion it looks like they are going to have to admit that the Hornets got the best of them at the negotiating table. At least we'll likely get to see Allen and O'Neale in the playoffs this season.
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