After the Phoenix Suns opted to trade sharpshooting wings Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale — along with an unprotected first-round pick in 2033 — for Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, Phoenix is again in the market for outside shooting.
Bridges averaged 17.1 points per game a season ago with Charlotte, but he made just 33.3% of his 3-pointers. That was right around his career average of 33.8% from deep, showing that he’s not a consistent threat from beyond the arc — a trait he shares with latest Suns draft pick Koa Peat (who Phoenix traded up to acquire in the 2026 draft).
By adding two power forwards with limited shooting range, while also trading away two veteran shooters who drained a whopping 371 treys combined a season ago, the Suns now need perimeter snipers. Those 371 makes from distance included a career-high 212 hits from deep for O’Neale, who shot a stellar 40.8% last season (also a career high).
So, who are the Suns going to bring in to address the outside shooting prowess they traded away?
Report links Suns to Lakers sharpshooting wing Luke Kennard
Longtime Arizona Sports radio host John Gambadoro put together a shortlist of guards the Suns could target in free agency to address their newfound lack of outside shooting. Atop his list is Los Angeles Lakers free agent Luke Kennard.
Yes, I do have Luke Kennard atop my list of free agent targets for the Suns I put out yesterday. Just 30 years old and not only led the league in three-point shooting this season with 47.8% from deep he also shot 47.4% in two playoff series for the Lakers. Would be the PERFECT…
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 30, 2026
Kennard is perhaps the only player available who could fill in for the shooting chops Phoenix is now without after moving Allen and O’Neale to land Bridges from Charlotte. Kennard led the league in 3-point percentage a season ago by converting a video-game-esque 47.8% of his triples. That was comfortably ahead of second-place Bobby Portis (45.6%) who is now headed to the Miami Heat courtesy of the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster trade.
Kennard kept that momentum going in the postseason as well, making 47.4% of his 3-point tries across 10 playoff games.
The 30-year-old out of Duke would certainly be a prime candidate to replace his fellow Blue Devil in Allen, as he could slot in to head coach Jordan Ott’s rotations in the same role to help spread the floor around Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and the newly acquired Bridges.
Gambadoro also listed Kevin Huerter (who has since re-signed with Detroit on a three-year deal) and former Suns wing Landry Shamet (who likewise has re-upped with the reigning champion New York Knicks).
Other guards he lists as potentially being on the Suns’ radar include Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and De’Anthony Melton.
There’s a good chance Kennard’s top-shelf shooting prowess will price him out of Phoenix’s range, but the Suns no doubt need to address shooting after giving so much of that strength away in the Bridges trade.
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