The Phoenix Suns traded for Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets as their newest addition in the offseason. It was hardly surprising, given how often the team was linked to him before the trade. As a proven scorer and solid defender, he fills an immediate need for a team building around Devin Booker. However, his talent was barely a concern during his introductory press conference. Instead, it was his personal life that stole the spotlight.

Bridges has a troubled past. He pleaded no contest to a felony domestic violence charge in 2022, and the Suns didn’t shy away from that. GM Brian Gregory told reporters during the introductory press conference that the team was okay with giving him a chance despite “unacceptable conduct that has occurred in the past.” He explained that Bridges would have to earn the trust of Suns fans.

“Those questions are part of his story,” Gregory added. “He’s dealt with them before, and he’ll deal with them today as well. I think those questions, we were aware of, and we knew about, and that’s why we took this decision so seriously.”

Similarly, Bridges also seemed to understand that some fans remain skeptical, but took responsibility for his past actions.

“It’s mixed feelings about me being here,” he told reporters. “But I take full responsibility for my actions; I’ve been to counseling, I’ve been to therapy. Right now, I’m prioritizing just being better as a man every day, on and off the court. Mainly off the court.”

Bridges also mentioned that his first priority is earning the respect of the locker room and creating a comfortable environment for his teammates, which will eventually reflect on the court. He also expressed gratitude to the Hornets, his former team, for giving him a second chance after his legal issues.

All that said, general manager Brian Gregory’s confidence in Miles Bridges extends beyond the basketball court. It’s because of his familiarity with the forward. They have known each other for a decade, dating back to Bridges’ time with the Michigan State Spartans, when Gregory was a consultant for the college.

Plus, the Suns have ties to the Spartans beyond just the two of them. After all, owner Mat Ishbia played for them in the late 90s.

Those ties are perhaps why Gregory and the Suns decided to trade for him from Charlotte, where he spent the last seven seasons of his career. Phoenix also received a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick. In return, they gave up wing contributors Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, as well as a 2033 first-round pick.

GM says Phoenix weighed how good a fit Miles Bridges is

The on-court fit makes a lot of sense for Miles Bridges. He averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists last season on league-average efficiency while being a solid defensive player.

“It was just a perfect fit for us,” Gregory said. “Everything that we’re about as a team when it comes to how you feel when you watch us play the grit, the energy, the toughness that we play with, the competitiveness we play with, Miles Bridges brings that every single day when he walks out on the court.”

Bridges joins the Phoenix core of Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and Mark Williams. They were a surprise participant in the playoffs last season after winning 45 games despite trading Kevin Durant in the previous offseason. Bridges’ strengths lie in his isolation and pick-and-roll scoring. He is also a reliable presence who can make things happen without the ball in his hands. Given their increase in size, expect this team to be more dominant at the rim.

This trade, however, has further reduced this roster’s outside shooting. Collin Gillespie, who just agreed to return, and Jordan Goodwin are the Suns’ only two above-average options in that area. Even franchise centerpiece Booker’s long-range shooting has declined in recent years. Does that make the Bridges trade a bad move? Not necessarily. Because the Suns had to choose a concrete direction. Their next first-round pick isn’t in the near future.

They’ve pretty much committed their mid-term future to the current group of players. But here comes a contractual play. If the Bridges trade doesn’t work out next season for any reason, he will be a free agent in 2027. That gives Phoenix the option to re-sign him or not.

Meanwhile, demonstrating his dedication to the new team, Bridges also stated during his introductory press conference that he is “ready to go to war” for Booker, whom he believes “deserves” a ring.

Only time will tell how Bridges’ time in Phoenix unfolds, but both he and the team know that his biggest challenge starts off the court, building trust with both fans and teammates. After all, skepticism about him has existed since 2022.

Bridges was arrested in June 2022 for felony child abuse and injuring a child’s parent. The league had him sit out while the case was pending. In the end, the player pleaded no contest.