The Charlotte Hornets are in the midst of a major roster transformation, shipping forward Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns in a multi-piece trade reported by ESPN on Sunday. In exchange, Charlotte receives guards Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, plus a 2033 first-round draft pick. Heading to Phoenix along with Bridges are a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.
The deal comes just three days after Charlotte sent All-Star LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves, signaling a significant new direction for the franchise.
Bridges spent his entire NBA career with the Hornets and was a central figure in the team’s first play-in tournament appearance since 2022. Last season, he averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 77 games. He is heading into the final year of a three-year, $75 million contract and is owed $22.8 million next season.
Over seven seasons and 501 games — 396 of which he started — Bridges has posted career averages of 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He was originally selected 12th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2018 NBA Draft and was traded to Charlotte on draft night.
Bridges missed the 2022-23 season and a portion of the following campaign after serving a suspension stemming from a no-contest plea to a felony domestic abuse charge.
With Bridges now in Phoenix, Naz Reid could step in at power forward for Charlotte. Reid came to the Hornets as part of the Ball trade with Minnesota.
The Suns had reportedly been pursuing Bridges for some time. The deal saves Phoenix approximately $20 million in luxury tax payments and opens up a roster spot ahead of free agency, which begins Tuesday.
Allen, 30, and O’Neale, 33, add seasoned experience to a young Hornets roster. Allen averaged 16.5 points last season, while O’Neale contributed 9.8 points per game. Allen was taken 21st overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2018 draft and has appeared in 454 career games across eight seasons with four teams, averaging 11.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. Last season he posted 3.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 51 games, starting 27 of them.
O’Neale appeared in 78 games last season, starting 67, and averaged 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Across nine seasons with three organizations and 678 career games, he has averaged 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 386 starts.
