The Charlotte Hornets have traded star forward Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a series of picks and player swaps.
The agreement was first reported by NBA insider Shams Charania on Sunday afternoon and left fans stunned. The trade sends Bridges to Phoenix along with a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick, while Charlotte receives Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and a 2033 first-round pick.
ESPN's Charania described the deal by saying the Suns "acquire a starting PF at 28 years old in Bridges, whom they've targeted in recent years, plus a 2029 less favorable first-rounder and a 2027 less favorable second rounder while getting $20 million in tax savings while opening up a roster spot ahead of free agency."
Charania added that "Charlotte picks up two playoff-tested role players and receives a valuable further out, unprotected Suns first-round pick."
The trade comes just weeks after Bridges was granted a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend and co-parent Mychelle Johnson, according to court files obtained by The Daily Mail.
Restraining order details
Johnson is forbidden from coming within 500 feet of Bridges, with whom she shares four children. She is also ordered to stay at least 500 feet from his girlfriend, Shara, and the three children Bridges shares with his current partner, as well as his home and workplace.
The temporary protective order was requested by Bridges on April 8 after what his lawyer described in a motion last month as "cyberstalking" by Johnson. The judge's order stated that Johnson "is hereby enjoined and restrained from engaging in any cyberstalking, impersonation, or electronic harassment directed at [Bridges], [Bridges'] counsel, or any person associated with [Bridges]...until further order of the court or agreement of the parties."
Last month, Bridges also filed for emergency temporary sole custody of the four children he shares with Johnson, whom he accused of drunkenly stalking him after dumping their kids with a nanny. An April motion reviewed by The Daily Mail stated that Johnson "abandoned her four minor children at home with a nanny, drove to the Spectrum Center while intoxicated, rented room at the nearby Omni Hotel, stationed an accomplice in the lobby, and crouched behind [Bridges'] parked vehicle at his employer's arena garage to tamper with its tires while he was on the court playing for the Charlotte Hornets."
Prior domestic violence case
Bridges, now 28, previously pleaded no contest in 2022 to a felony domestic violence charge for injuring Johnson in front of their children in June of that year. Johnson shared photos of injuries she said she sustained in the attack days later, though she did not name Bridges and later deleted the post. He avoided jail time as part of his plea agreement but was sentenced to three years of probation.
In October 2023, a criminal summons was issued for Bridges, accusing him of violating a protection order stemming from the 2022 domestic violence case. Bridges had previously requested a restraining order against Johnson in Los Angeles in 2022, accusing her of harassment, stealing his dog, and showing up unannounced to an Airbnb where he was staying.
Career background
A former Michigan State standout, Bridges was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2018 but was immediately dealt to Charlotte in exchange for future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Over seven NBA seasons, Bridges has averaged 15.9 points and 6.1 rebounds a game.
Bridges has $76 million in career earnings and is due to make $22.8 million in Phoenix next season.
