The Phoenix Suns made efforts this offseason to run it back after a surprising playoff berth in 2026, re-signing free agents Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Mark Williams. But the key cog in the machine for 2026-27 is now Miles Bridges, acquired from the Charlotte Hornets.
Again and again, the Suns were excoriated for the move. The most recent example was CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn, who called the trade indefensible and said that Suns owner Mat Ishbia “does not understand long-term roster building in any way, shape or form" on a recent episode of the Third Apron Podcast.
Quinn explained that it was a lateral move that takes the Suns from a Play-In team to … a Play-In team. In the process, the Suns surrendered an unprotected 2033 first-round pick in order to stay right where they’re at in the standings—at least according to Quinn’s analysis, among others. With that, Bridges faces plenty of pressure to perform.
Miles Bridges must prove he can elevate Suns’ ceiling
The upcoming Suns season, for better or worse, is tied to Bridges.
Phoenix defied all expectations a season ago, en route to a 45-win campaign, which was a nine-win improvement from the season prior, with Kevin Durant in tow under Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. That 45-win mark is now the barometer of success in The Valley.
Giving up not only an unprotected first rounder but also two solid, sharpshooting role players in Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale was widely criticized. The onus is now on Bridges to prove the front office wasn’t wearing rose-colored glasses simply to add another Michigan State product to the fold. If the Suns can’t reach that 45-win plateau with Bridges as the primary new piece, Quinn’s take calling the deal a lateral move would become the best-case scenario.
Mark Williams’ injury adds yet more pressure on Miles Bridges with Suns
Complicating matters further, the loss of starting center Mark Williams to a torn labrum injury and subsequent surgery puts even more pressure on Bridges to perform.
Williams was the Suns’ leading rebounder a season ago, hauling in 8.0 rebounds per contest (including 3.1 on the offensive end). Bridges’ rebounding ability was already under the microscope as a crucial addition he could bring to this year’s roster. Without Williams, that becomes even more imperative for a Suns team that struggled to prevent second-chance points a season ago.
Add in the fact that there's reason to believe Bridges was elevated by "The LaMelo Ball Effect" in Charlotte, and the variables keep stacking up against him having success in Phoenix.
The Suns needed a lot from Bridges to prove the trade was worthwhile before Williams went down with the injury. But now, it appears the front office put him in an impossible situation.
If the Suns fail to reach that 45-win mark, Bridges will get the bulk of the blame. But the Suns' front office will ultimately be forced to do some real introspection if the franchise takes another step backward.
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