The Phoenix Suns’ decision to swing another big trade with the Charlotte Hornets to acquire embattled power forward Miles Bridges was, to put it lightly, not a popular move.
We previously broke down five big reasons why the Bridges trade was bringing nothing but consternation from just about everyone outside of Phoenix’s front office. From the unprotected 2033 first-round pick the Suns surrendered, to the two solid sharpshooting wings they sent away, to Bridges entering a contract year, never being named an All-Star in his career, and his repeated off-court legal issues stemming from domestic violence that got him suspended from the NBA.
To be sure, there’s no shortage of reasons to scratch your head at this decision — one that was, by GM Brian Gregory’s own admission, motivated in part by adding another guy with Michigan State ties like owner Mat Ishbia. But now, another prominent NBA pundit is putting his two cents out there to excoriate the Suns for yet another short-sighted trade in a long, sad series of them.
‘The worst trade a team made this summer.’ Vecenie skewers Suns
Speaking on his “Game Theory Podcast,” senior writer for The Athletic Sam Vecenie did not hold back his criticism of the Suns for their Bridges trade.
“The Miles Bridges deal to me was probably the worst trade a team made this summer,” Vecenie said. “Just being completely honest. I thought that that deal made absolutely no sense whatsoever.”
Vecenie acknowledged that the Suns are getting back a first-round pick in the deal and that there are other factors, such as financial flexibility, that aid Phoenix’s side of the trade. However, he was extremely critical, like others have been, of Phoenix giving up an unprotected first-rounder for a guy who’s never been an All-Star. Vecenie also did not dismiss the importance of Allen, whom he called “one of the best shooters in the NBA just point blank.”
Allen frequently flirted with the Suns franchise record for 3-pointers made in a single season, and his 205 treys made throughout 2023-24 are fourth all-time in Suns history (tied with Raja Bell).
O’Neale, likewise, put together a fabulous season with the Suns. He averaged a career-high 9.8 points per game on a career-best 40.8 percent shooting from long range. “Rolls Royce” was also extremely durable, playing 153 of a possible 164 regular season games over the past two seasons with Phoenix.
Even setting aside the draft capital the Suns surrendered yet again, creating an even murkier future for the post-Booker era, Allen and O’Neale are both proven, battle-tested NBA veterans who filled key roles for a team that beat every expectation in 2025-26. Giving them up will surely hurt this team’s offensive acumen, even though Gregory was able to sign sharpshooter Luke Kennard away from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason to offset that loss.
Vecenie makes the same argument, saying there’s a “nonzero chance” the value that Allen and O’Neale bring alone may offset the value the Suns are getting with Bridges, who, as we’ve noted, is only under contract for this coming season. Again, that doesn’t even account for the unprotected pick heading Charlotte’s way.
For a trade that didn’t get higher than a C- for Phoenix in a trade grades roundup, Vecenie joined the cacophony of haters by calling it “straight up an F trade for the Suns” and a “total, colossal failure.”
Yikes.
Suns made other moves viewed more positively
Vecenie again hedged his view by saying he liked the other moves the Suns made — including retaining free agents Collin Gillespie and Mark Williams on team-friendly deals. But even if Bridges didn’t have the off-court baggage he brings to The Valley, he’d be facing an uphill battle to win over the fanbase just to raise the ceiling of this team that now will be playing without two veteran sharpshooting wings who were proven fits in the system.
For the record, Vecenie’s podcast co-host Bryce Simon agreed by saying he liked everything the Suns did except the Bridges trade.
While the Suns were in the market for a true power forward, something that was true before the trade deadline, they gave up a ton to fill that need after trading up in the draft to bring in University of Arizona standout Koa Peat at that spot. If the Suns believed in Peat enough to trade up to get him, why then trade for another power forward who blocks his avenue to playing time?
While there’s a lot to like about the 2026 Suns offseason, the Bridges trade continues to sour basketball minds around the NBA landscape — for a number of valid reasons.
The Suns arguably should be moving forward with a youth movement by letting former lottery pick Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and incoming rookie Koa Peat get their feet wet and gain experience at the NBA level. Instead, those guys will mostly be waiting in the wings behind Bridges and Williams.
If Phoenix fails to build upon a surprising 45-win campaign this coming season, best believe the naysayers will get even louder.
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