​The Phoenix Suns are on the brink of reaching the league’s maximum roster size of 15, but two separate moves are currently delaying an officially completed lineup. Arizona Sports insider John Gambadoro shed light on why the team’s plans are temporarily on hold Thursday morning, including the anticipated deal that would send Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets to Phoenix. Gambadoro explained that the Miles Bridges trade and the Luke Kennard signing are expected to be finalized early next week, while the initial trade involving Charlotte, Minnesota, and Brooklyn should be wrapped up this weekend. He noted that Phoenix can’t finalize its own transaction until that broader trade is completed. He emphasized that there is no risk of the deals falling through, only a matter of timing.
Earlier speculation had suggested the delay might be tied to a questionable medical report for either Grayson Allen or Bridges, but Gambadoro stated that this is not the case. The underlying reason for the pause, he explained, involves semantics that require bringing additional teams into the trade to make the deals more straightforward for the league office to process. In Gambadoro’s view, Bridges and Kennard will indeed belong to the Suns within the next few days, and both players bring compelling advantages to the table, even as questions linger about how the defensive framework the team has built under head coach Jordan Ott could be affected by this makeover.
Miles Bridges has posted averages above 20 points per game across three seasons in his career. He is capable of scoring in bunches and is known for his athleticism and versatility, but he has been criticized for an inconsistent motor on defense and for being an average three-point shooter. Acquiring Bridges represents a high-risk, high-reward proposition: his multi-year appeal for Phoenix is clear, and the front office has long coveted his skill set, which helps explain why the trade has drawn so much attention and why the hold-up is understandable in the context of broader trade dynamics.
On the other hand, Luke Kennard is widely regarded as one of basketball’s premier long-range shooters. The Suns targeted him heavily heading into free agency after moving on from Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale in a prior deal with Charlotte. Kennard, who played for Duke, shot close to 48 percent from three-point range last season and is frequently cited as one of the era’s best “pure shooters,” even if his shooting volume isn’t sky-high. Phoenix hopes Kennard can help fill the void left by Allen’s departure by providing sustained floor spacing, secondary playmaking, and a respectable contribution on defense.
Together, Kennard and Bridges represent major gambles for the Suns’ front office, but there is a plausible path to a profoundly positive outcome in the coming season. If everything aligns, the Suns could reposition themselves for a playoff push and a stronger run in the postseason as they reassemble a roster capable of competing at a high level.
In the meantime, Suns fans are encouraged to stay tuned as these moves unfold. Bridges and Kennard are both expected to join Phoenix soon, and their addition would mark a significant shift in the team’s approach and on-court identity. The club’s supporters are hopeful that the blend of Bridges’ athleticism and Kennard’s shooting can help reenergize a squad intent on returning to the playoffs and contending for deeper postseason success in the near future.
For SunsRoundtable readers, the latest developments offer ample material to discuss as the season approaches. If you’d like to join the conversation, head to the SunsRoundtable page and click the “Join” button at the top. It’s completely free to participate, and you’ll have the chance to engage with fellow Suns fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts, and more. If you’re asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app, rest assured that it’s also free. Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable and can be reached on X @khicks_21.