Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns was not a dream (or nightmare depending on your take on the situation), and so fans must now contend with the reality of having him on their team next season.
Adding Grayson Allen to Bridges deal felt unnecessary
But in adding Grayson Allen to a package that included Royce O’Neale and various pick swaps, the Suns overpaid for a player and hurt their chances of getting better at the trade deadline in 2026-27. You could make the case Allen is just a straight up better player than Bridges, although his lack of availability because of injury hurts that argument.
There is no doubt that another organization would have talked themselves into trading for Allen at the deadline next season, he once led the entire league in 3-point shooting percentage while in Phoenix and has proven to be an above average defender who can guard multiple positions reasonably well.
The reasoning for adding Allen to the package was to make the salaries work and take on what is effectively a $22.1 million expiring contract in the form of Bridges. That does make sense from a financial standpoint, until you realize early indications are that the franchise could look to bring Bridges back long-term.
Contrast that with Allen, who has two years remaining on his current deal and represented some of the best value in the entire league.
The 30-year-old was also an important part of the culture and identity that the franchise built under head coach Jordan Ott. Going back to the Kevin Durant/Bradley Beal era, and Allen was crucial in spacing the floor as a starter and coming off the bench. He did his job no matter what he was asked to do, and willingly gave up a starting berth so that the Suns could squeeze Tyus Jones into the starting lineup.
Giving up all of that feels like a steep price to pay for Bridges, especially as the Charlotte Hornets can now flip both Allen and O’Neale in separate deals if they choose to.
Moving them individually or even as a package seems more straightforward than having to find a suitor for Bridges. It is clear that franchise is cleaning house to rebuild their own culture even after a successful campaign by their standards, and that should have had the Suns wary.
They successfully targeted a pair of veterans from The Valley who helped get the Suns back on track. It was time for Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to leave Phoenix, but not like this.
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