Miles Bridges meets the press today. 07/22/26

[Brian in Mesa]

I don't get it.

Is Bridges going to wear #22?

He must be reacting to the guy who wore it before and how that went - Deandre Ayton.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Duane Rankin
@DuaneRankin
·
30m


"A lot of calls didn't go their way."Miles Bridges on Suns playoff series against defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. #Suns

This guy will fit right in around this franchise. He's already questioning calls.

 

[Mainstreet]

Gregory is an interesting guy. I don’t think he thinks that he is that much of a smart guy. He doesn’t feel he has to outsmart everyone. He just makes the best most obvious choices. I am thinking primarily of the draft.

But he also knows what kind of team he wants and is building that kind of team without apologies. He is not trying to win every trade, he is trying to build a roster and a culture.

I am still not completely sold on him, but we have certainly had worse.

Initially I thought Brian Gregory would be an interim GM. Now, I'm thinking he is more than capable of doing the job full-time.

That aside, I'm curious who else is making the decisions behind the curtain such as the draft, trades and free agency.

There is some serious brainpower within the organization as a whole.

 

[Chaplin]

We traded away a pick that could potentially be the #1 pick, it could go anywhere in the draft, we're desperately banking that we're a good team in 2033.

The pick we got is leveraged between 4 teams and we get the last bite at the apple, almost a certainty to be a late pick. The pick we got, in trade talks, is utterly worthless.

The pick we traded away is solid gold. A future pick with no protections from a team with an extremely leveraged future.

Of note... Miles Bridges is a pending unrestricted free agent.

So, along with mortgaging our principals and our future, we're also about to give this guy a big contract.

My guess is 30-40 million a year... for a PR headache who's never made a statistical positive impact on a roster.

Awesome.

Dude go have a brownie or something.

Want to make sure you don't jump off the nearest building. Geez.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We traded away a pick that could potentially be the #1 pick, it could go anywhere in the draft, we're desperately banking that we're a good team in 2033.

The pick we got is leveraged between 4 teams and we get the last bite at the apple, almost a certainty to be a late pick. The pick we got, in trade talks, is utterly worthless.

The pick we traded away is solid gold. A future pick with no protections from a team with an extremely leveraged future.

Of note... Miles Bridges is a pending unrestricted free agent.

So, along with mortgaging our principals and our future, we're also about to give this guy a big contract.

My guess is 30-40 million a year... for a PR headache who's never made a statistical positive impact on a roster.

Awesome.

The chances of it being the #1 pick in he draft are very small. And then the chances of having a clear #1 player in the draft are much smaller than that. And then, that clear #1 player has to actually pan out (see DA).

Yes. We should have at least protected the pick, top three or something. But I am not going to worry about it too much.

 

[GatorAZ]

We traded away a pick that could potentially be the #1 pick, it could go anywhere in the draft, we're desperately banking that we're a good team in 2033.

The pick we got is leveraged between 4 teams and we get the last bite at the apple, almost a certainty to be a late pick. The pick we got, in trade talks, is utterly worthless.

The pick we traded away is solid gold. A future pick with no protections from a team with an extremely leveraged future.

Of note... Miles Bridges is a pending unrestricted free agent.

So, along with mortgaging our principals and our future, we're also about to give this guy a big contract.

My guess is 30-40 million a year... for a PR headache who's never made a statistical positive impact on a roster.

Awesome.

Ishbia has always been awful at managing assets. He’s traded like 6 unprotected picks since he took over and used a first rd pick to dump Nurkic, traded multiple swaps to get Beal when nobody else was taking that contract and tossed an unprotected first for no reason to get Bridges. The fact the Hornets threw in that heavily swapped first to get a more valuable one was just like the Utah trade. We traded those picks for Mark Williams who will be traded or a be a backup within two years. And it’s not about the 7th grader in 7 years it’s about keeping assets to trade for actual all-star players.

 

[leclerc]

Gregory or whoever better get his ish together. Can't keep on handing out unprotected first round picks. Try haggling or play hardball. At least they addressed lack of size and they got out of some financial limitations so it is not all bad. I am looking forward to the day when we have a lottery pick again.

Say you had the #8 pick. Who would you select? Would you take Flemings because we need a PG?

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

Gregory or whoever better get his ish together. Can't keep on handing out unprotected first round picks. Try haggling or play hardball. At least they addressed lack of size and they got out of some financial limitations so it is not all bad. I am looking forward to the day when we have a lottery pick again.

Say you had the #8 pick. Who would you select? Would you take Flemings because we need a PG?

you don't trade all that for miles bridges only to make the play-in again - you only make that trade if you think it makes you better - substantially

the trade gives us a legit starting power forward - one who's more than familiar with our starting center - that's the gamble - if it works we win a playoffs series - if we win a playoff series miles can probably buy a really nice home in paradise valley

 

[Chaplin]

The chances of it being the #1 pick in he draft are very small. And then the chances of having a clear #1 player in the draft are much smaller than that. And then, that clear #1 player has to actually pan out (see DA).

Yes. We should have at least protected the pick, top three or something. But I am not going to worry about it too much.

Good luck with that. There are people on this board that are going to lament it in almost every post non-stop for the next 7 years.

 

[leclerc]

How many first round picks have we traded away? I need to check with Claude.
---

2027: No own pick (to Houston); do have an incoming pick (worst of Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah)
2028: Own pick, but Brooklyn/Washington can swap for the worse one
2029: No own pick (to Houston)
2030: Own pick, but Washington/Memphis can swap
2031: No own pick (split into lesser assets in prior trades)
2032: Own pick, but frozen/untradeable (apron penalty)

They don't get a clean, tradable pick of their own until 2033.

 

[leclerc]

2028 can be something since Washington and Brooklyn tend to stink it up.

 

[Adrian]

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[leclerc]

Claude is not following the news.
---
Updated outlook:
2027: No own pick (to Houston); incoming pick still held (worst of Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah)
2028: Own pick, Brooklyn/Washington can swap
2029: No own pick (to Houston); but now hold an incoming first — worst of Charlotte/Utah/Minnesota/Cleveland
2030: Own pick, Washington/Memphis can swap
2031: No own pick (split into lesser assets)
2032: Own pick, but frozen/untradeable (apron penalty)
2033: No longer theirs — sent to Charlotte, unprotected
---
These new owners are not cool. Is this all Ishbias work?

 

[JCSunsfan]

And these are the changes for the lottery in 2031 (AI response)

NBA Draft Changes in 2031​

The 2031 NBA Draft will be the first to be shaped by the league’s new “3‑2‑1” draft lottery reform, approved in 2026 to discourage tanking and flatten odds for non‑playoff teams CBS Sports+1.

Key Lottery Reform Rules (Effective 2027 Draft, but shaping 2031)​

• Lottery balls: 37 balls for 16 teams.
  • 3 balls: Teams missing playoffs (except the 3 worst records, who get 2).
  • 2 balls: No. 9 and No. 10 Play‑In seeds.
  • 1 ball: Losers of No. 7 vs. No. 8 Play‑In games NBA.
• Pick floors:
  • Draft‑relegated teams (worst 3 records) can’t pick lower than No. 12.
  • All others can pick as low as No. 16 NBA.
• Pick restrictions:
  • No team can be No. 1 in two consecutive drafts.
  • No team can be in the top 5 in three consecutive drafts (applies to traded picks too) CBS Sports+1.
• Pick protections:
  • No top‑12 through top‑15 protections on newly traded picks NBA.
• Discipline: Commissioner can alter odds, change pick positions, or fine teams for tanking CBS Sports+1.

Impact on 2031 Draft​

While the reform starts in 2027, its effects will ripple into 2031:

• Reduced value of top picks: With flatter odds, the most valuable picks before the lottery are less valuable than before CBS Sports.
• More competitive lottery: Teams that miss the playoffs have more equal odds, reducing incentives to tank.
• Trade dynamics: Restrictions on top‑5 picks and pick floors will influence how teams trade for future picks.

2031 Draft Context​

• The 2031 draft will feature the top players from the 2030 recruiting class NBA Draft Room.
• Teams’ actual pick positions in 2031 will depend on their 2029–30 record, as the lottery system is in place for 2027–2029 drafts NBA.
• Trade activity in 2031 will be shaped by the new restrictions, especially for high‑value picks.

Bottom line: The 2031 NBA Draft will operate under a lottery system that flattens odds for non‑playoff teams, limits consecutive top‑pick scenarios, and restricts pick protections, making the draft more competitive and less predictable for teams CBS Sports+1

 

[Cheesebeef]

you don't trade all that for miles bridges only to make the play-in again - you only make that trade if you think it makes you better - substantially

the trade gives us a legit starting power forward - one who's more than familiar with our starting center - that's the gamble - if it works we win a playoffs series - if we win a playoff series miles can probably buy a really nice home in paradise valley

remaking our front-line in the vein of the front-line for Charlotte, who were perpetually one of the worst teams in the league while those two guys played together, is certainly a gamble.

 

[taz02]

It's easy to second guess the trade, but we absolutely needed a starting PF. Maybe there were better options and maybe there weren't. Had we gone into this season without a starting PF we'd be ripping the team for doing nothing.

I for one like the aggressiveness of management to take risks, and they've shown the ability to correct mistakes, see Durant.

 

[taz02]

2023-2024 season Bridges and Williams combined for 34-PPG 4.5-AST 17-RB

 

[Mainstreet]

It's easy to second guess the trade, but we absolutely needed a starting PF. Maybe there were better options and maybe there weren't. Had we gone into this season without a starting PF we'd be ripping the team for doing nothing.

I for one like the aggressiveness of management to take risks, and they've shown the ability to correct mistakes, see Durant.

Yeah, now the Suns have several power forward candidates versus one (Fleming).

The Suns have a lot of versatility at the forward position.

 

[Hoop Head]

Claude is not following the news.
---
Updated outlook:
2027: No own pick (to Houston); incoming pick still held (worst of Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah)
2028: Own pick, Brooklyn/Washington can swap
2029: No own pick (to Houston); but now hold an incoming first — worst of Charlotte/Utah/Minnesota/Cleveland
2030: Own pick, Washington/Memphis can swap
2031: No own pick (split into lesser assets)
2032: Own pick, but frozen/untradeable (apron penalty)
2033: No longer theirs — sent to Charlotte, unprotected
---
These new owners are not cool. Is this all Ishbias work?

That is correct. We only received our own pick back in 2028. We traded that either during the Mark Williams or Nurkic deals. If we landed Charlotte's 1st in 2028 then it'd be a push.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

remaking our front-line in the vein of the front-line for Charlotte, who were perpetually one of the worst teams in the league while those two guys played together, is certainly a gamble.

you keep saying that yet neither are in charlotte any longer - and mark williams (while available) was pretty damn good here so pardon me if i don't share the same pessimistic pov - im pretty pumped about having an actual power forward who can bang in the paint and clog it up on the other end

 

[AzStevenCal]

you keep saying that yet neither are in charlotte any longer - and mark williams (while available) was pretty damn good here so pardon me if i don't share the same pessimistic pov - im pretty pumped about having an actual power forward who can bang in the paint and clog it up on the other end

I'm thrilled with the idea that on any night we might dominate at the 5, the 4, the 3, the 2 and even at the PG spot. This looks like it could, potentially, be our best roster ever. It's a wonderful time of year, I just hope this hopeful feeling lasts past Christmas this time.

 

[Bada0Bing]

I'm hoping we get a discount on his long term contract. If things go right for us, Fleming and Peat will eat up the PF minutes eventually and we'll look to trade Bridges. His trade value is gonna be lowered due to his history, so having him on a cheap contract will help when it comes time to move him.

And he really should have chosen a different number...22?? Yikes, not off to a good start.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

I'm thrilled with the idea that on any night we might dominate at the 5, the 4, the 3, the 2 and even at the PG spot. This looks like it could, potentially, be our best roster ever. It's a wonderful time of year, I just hope this hopeful feeling lasts past Christmas this time.

i'm digging our bench and youth as well

 

[Chaplin]

I'm hoping we get a discount on his long term contract. If things go right for us, Fleming and Peat will eat up the PF minutes eventually and we'll look to trade Bridges. His trade value is gonna be lowered due to his history, so having him on a cheap contract will help when it comes time to move him.

And he really should have chosen a different number...22?? Yikes, not off to a good start.

We are posting too much about Ayton. Screw him. Move on.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I certainly hope he’s reformed and concentrating on being a better person.