Much has been made of the Phoenix Suns grossly overpaying to acquire forward Miles Bridges this offseason, but it is entirely possible he exceeds expectations and is named an All-Star for the first time. That would be a best-case scenario here.
Best case scenario for Bridges in Phoenix definitely in play
If the Suns are as good as many fans think they will be during the regular season—pushing for a top-four berth and winning more than the 45 games of last year—then two of their top three players will likely have career years.
Let us assume that Devin Booker is one of them. He is due a bounce-back campaign to silence the growing number of doubters who feel he is no longer a top-20 talent in the NBA. Dillon Brooks is the obvious second choice; only his banner year may have been last season, which helped him sign an extension at the perfect time in his own career to remain in The Valley.
That leaves the high-scoring four in Bridges as the player in new surroundings for the first time in his career (while looking for an extension of his own) as the obvious candidate to exceed expectations.
Giving up an unprotected first in 2033 for his services will never be seen as acceptable, and it induces panic to think about where the franchise may be by the time that selection comes due. But in the here and now, Bridges is a talent upgrade in his prime, who could thrive next to other like-minded scorers in Booker and Jalen Green.
The arrival of a stretch five in Duop Reath might just create the spacing Bridges needs to take his game to the next level, and there is every chance he averages over 20 a night and emerges as the co-star next to Booker in Brooks' place.
Bridges doesn't need All-Star nod to be vindicated
If Brooks was unable to earn a spot in the midseason exhibition last time out, then the odds of Bridges doing so are even less. His previous off the court issues make it highly unlikely he is included, but that doesn't mean he can't perform like an All-Star.
So much has been made about the Suns locking themselves into a core that has a clear limit to how good it can be (second round of the playoffs) while they once again come close to the dreaded second apron.
There is no denying those facts, and yet they have a veteran-heavy group that will win games, some promising youngsters, and one of the better minds in the league in Head Coach Jordan Ott steering the ship.
Sure seems like the perfect place for Bridges to reach levels we've never seen from him before, and make a run at an All-Star selection in the process.
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