The Charlotte Hornets have traded forward Miles Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for guards/forwards Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale plus a 2033 first-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The deal, confirmed Sunday morning, continues Charlotte’s aggressive offseason reshaping that began earlier this week with the blockbuster trade of star guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Trade Breakdown
Hornets receive:
- Grayson Allen — a proven sharpshooter and veteran wing known for elite three-point shooting and floor-spacing ability.
- Royce O’Neale — a versatile 3-and-D wing with strong defensive instincts and consistent outside shooting.
- 2033 first-round pick (unprotected or with favorable terms based on reporting).
Suns receive:
- Miles Bridges — the 28-year-old athletic forward who averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season and enters the final year of his contract.
- 2029 first-round pick.
- 2027 second-round pick.
Bridges, who has been with the Hornets since being acquired on draft night in 2018, was generating significant league-wide interest as an expiring contract piece. The Suns have long been connected to him, nearly acquiring him at the 2024 deadline.
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading Miles Bridges, 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, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/vjcR7AdwSD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2026
What the Hornets Are Doing With Their Recent Trades
This latest move fits a clear, calculated pattern in Charlotte’s front-office strategy under the current regime: prioritize shooting, spacing, and future asset accumulation while transitioning leadership to a younger core built around Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.
Just days after sending LaMelo Ball (and Josh Green) to Minnesota for Naz Reid and a massive package of future picks and swaps (including an unprotected 2033 first, multiple pick swaps from 2028-2030, and additional second-rounders), the Hornets are doubling down on perimeter shooting and versatility.
Allen and O’Neale are both high-volume three-point threats who can stretch defenses and provide immediate floor spacing for Miller and the rising Knueppel (the No. 4 overall pick in 2025 who had a strong rookie year). O’Neale adds defensive flexibility and toughness on the wing, while Allen brings proven catch-and-shoot reliability and playmaking off the bench or in smaller lineups.
By moving Bridges — a productive but higher-usage scorer whose expiring $22.8 million deal carried both value and limitations — Charlotte sheds salary and tenure while acquiring two veteran shooters who better complement the skill sets of their young stars. The incoming 2033 first-round pick adds another long-term lottery ticket to an already growing collection of future assets.
Earlier 2026 moves at the February trade deadline also showed a willingness to reshape the roster for younger or more cost-controlled talent. The overarching approach appears to be:
- Extract maximum value from established players (Ball, now Bridges) while their trade stock is high.
- Stockpile draft capital and flexible contracts.
- Build a roster optimized for three-point volume and defensive versatility around Miller and Knueppel.
- Avoid long-term commitments that could hinder development or future flexibility.
Some observers have noted the Hornets are “blowing it up” shortly after showing progress (a strong second-half surge and play-in appearance in 2025-26). Others see a deliberate bet on shooting and youth development, with Reid providing frontcourt stability and Allen/O’Neale supplying the spacing the young core needs to thrive.
