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The streaking Phoenix Suns have seven video games in a row and are beginning to hit their stride nearer to the enterprise finish of the season. It seems GM James Jones has a number of extra strikes up his sleeve to shore up the roster.
Based on Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic, the Suns have set their sights on Charlotte Hornets ahead Miles Bridges – one among 10 gamers that that franchise is concentrating on forward of the Feb. 8 commerce deadline.
As a lot because the Suns would profit by including Bridges, who’s averaging a career-high 20.8 factors per sport, there are many hurdles that might preclude them from doing so.
For starters, Bridges – an unrestricted free agent on the finish of the season – has a no-trade clause as a result of he stands to lose his Fowl Rights if traded. Based on Rankin, Bridges is searching for a “profitable long-term deal” after this season, one thing the Suns merely can’t afford as a consequence of their tax scenario. The Suns — $21.5M over the luxurious tax this season — have three max-level gamers on their payroll and are above the second apron. If the Suns may purchase Bridges together with his Fowl Rights, they’d have the choice — a really costly one — to pay the Michigan State product what he wishes.
As such, if the Suns do take the gamble on Bridges, he’d basically be a one-year rental.
One other problem, per Rankin, is that the Hornets are reportedly searching for a number of draft picks for any deal. The Suns’ draft chest is fairly naked however they do have the choice of utilizing decide swaps.
There’s additionally the query of optics. The Suns would possibly obtain extreme backlash for buying the controversial Bridges, who has a pending courtroom date for subsequent month for a home violence incident from 2022, for which he already served a 30-game suspension.
Bridges, 25, is owed $7.9M within the final 12 months of his rookie scale contract. The Suns may use the likes of Grayson Allen ($8.9M) or a mix of Nassir Little ($6.25M) and Josh Okogie ($2.8M) to drag off a commerce for Bridges. Damion Lee and Keita Bates-Diop are different gamers on veteran-minimum offers that may be packaged to make the salaries work.
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