The Charlotte Hornets continued their roster overhaul by sending forward Miles Bridges along with a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and a 2033 first-round pick, ESPN reported Sunday.
The move comes three days after the Hornets traded All-Star LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bridges, who has played his entire career with the Hornets, played a key role in the team’s first play-in tournament appearance since 2022, averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 77 games last season. He is entering the final year of a three-year, $75 million contract and is set to earn $22.8 million next season.
In seven seasons Bridges has averaged 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 501 games (396 starts). He was a first-round pick (No. 12 overall) by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2018 and traded to the Hornets on draft day.
Bridges missed the 2022-23 season and part of the following season due to a suspension after he pleaded no-contest for felony domestic abuse.
The trade allows Naz Reid to potentially replace Bridges at power forward. Reid was acquired from the Timberwolves in the Ball deal.
The Suns, who reportedly had an ongoing interest in acquiring Bridges, save $20 million in luxury tax with the deal and free up a roster spot before free agency begins Tuesday.
Allen, 30, and O’Neal, 33, bring veteran experience to a young Hornets squad, after they averaged 16.5 and 9.8 points, respectively, last season.
Allen, a first-round selection (No. 21 overall) by the Utah Jazz in the 2018 draft, has played eight seasons with four teams and added 3.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 51 games (27 starts) last season. Over 454 career games (279 starts), Allen has averaged 11.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
O’Neal played in 78 games (67 starts) last season, averaging 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. In nine seasons with three teams, he has averaged 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 points in 678 games (386 starts).
–Field Level Media
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