With the Feb. 8 trade deadline rapidly approaching and the usually aggressive Phoenix Suns standing pat so far, more rumors are swirling on what moves they could make.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Suns have really limited assets at their disposal outside of their starting five, but with that being said, one name has been tied to the Suns more than anyone else.
The Suns have been reported to have interest in Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges for a couple weeks now. The 25-year-old Bridges is averaging 21.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 36 games this season and just scored 41 points last night, but does have a history of domestic violence that has left Suns’ fans torn if they want him or not.
Bridges signed a one-year qualifying offer with Charlotte in July worth $7.9 million, so ideally Phoenix could get a 20-point-per-game, 3-and-D wing without giving up much assets. Bridges also has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he can veto any trade he doesn’t like.
The newest rumor per Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer describes the Suns as willing to include Josh Okogie in the deal.
Here is what Fischer writes:
“Phoenix continues to be mentioned as the leading suitor for Charlotte forward Miles Bridges, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The Suns see Bridges, a Michigan State product, as a strong fit with their big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. However, the Suns only have second-round draft capital to play with. And while Phoenix has indicated a willingness to add Josh Okogie into a package of Nassir Little and two second-round picks for Bridges, sources said, Charlotte remains hopeful it can generate a first-round pick in return for Bridges.
If not, Charlotte now has the upcoming cap space to re-sign Bridges, and getting the swingman on a multi-year deal would surely increase his trade value next season. The fact Bridges is playing this 2023-24 campaign on a one-year qualifying offer not only affords Bridges veto power in any trade, but dealing him elsewhere would squander Bridges’ Bird rights, preventing any team that acquired him before Thursday to re-sign him this summer if it is going to be over the salary cap on June 30. So there may even be stronger options for Charlotte to move Bridges as a sign-and-trade candidate this summer as well.”
Another trade notebook for @YahooSports, three days before the deadline, features some extended notes on the Rockets, the aggressive Bucks, clarifying some details with the Magic and Clippers, and a whole lot more: https://t.co/O34osCPR3E
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) February 5, 2024
It is important to note that Okogie also has veto rights in any trade. so he could choose to not be traded to go to the Hornets if he doesn’t want to.
Okogie is averaging 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18.1 minutes for the Suns this season and is arguably the team’s best defender.
We will see what ends up transpiring for the Suns before the deadline.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
