The Phoenix Suns have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to set the pace for a surprising trip to the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Devin Booker has led Phoenix to a 27-18 record despite the fact that expected co-star Jalen Green has missed 41 games and counting.
Though it makes sense for the Suns to evaluate what they can do to fill the void Green has left in the rotation, a recent rumor of interest in Miles Bridges fails to suffice.
Green's absence hasn't necessarily held the Suns back, but with the trade deadline looming, it has posed unavoidable questions. It's still entirely unclear how he'll fit alongside Booker, and Phoenix's push for the playoffs creates some level of a sense of urgency to avoid long-term uncertainty.
The Suns appear to have a resolution in mind, as Sam Amick of The Athletic is reporting that they're one of several teams that have expressed interest in acquiring Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets.
"As for Hornets that might be on the move, veteran forward Miles Bridges is drawing significant interest, league sources toldThe Athletic. The Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns are all known to be among the interested parties, though it remains to be seen if any team can compel the Hornets to give Bridges up."
It's unclear what the Hornets would ask for in a potential trade, but Bridges wouldn't move the needle in the way the Suns think he might regardless of the asking price.
Miles Bridges doesn't fit what the Suns need next to Devin Booker
Bridges, 27, has spent his entire career with the Hornets since they added him at No. 12 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. During that time, he's steadily emerged as one of the most productive scoring threats south of the All-Star line.
Over the past three seasons, Bridges has averaged 21.2 points per 36 minutes while shooting at a clip of .446/.331/.847.
For as intriguing as some of those numbers are, his weaknesses are too glaring to overlook. Bridges ranks in the fifth percentile in one-on-one shot making efficiency, the 36th percentile in midrange shot quality, and the 17th percentile in three-point shot quality.
With questionable tendencies as a scorer and an inefficient outside shot, it's difficult to envision a scenario in which Bridges pushes the Suns forward.
Furthermore, a trade for Bridges would carry a significant degree of financial risk. He's owed $22,826,087 for the 2026-27 season, and while it's easy to simply say that a team may take his expiring deal off of Phoenix's hands if the trade doesn't work out, there's no guaranteeing such an outcome.
Though it's fair for the Suns to explore the market and gauge the asking prices for players around the Association, Bridges isn't the answer to their issues.