[220Participant]

 After the Suns first preseason game I find myself wondering why they traded for Mikal Bridges? Two first round picks for a guy who looks to be buried on the depth chart seems questionable. It still seemed  somewhat questionable before the Suns signed Trevor Ariza. Perhaps they are high on his long term potential, but two first round picks is a lot to move up to #10 from #16.

[BeardedDragon84Participant]

 Perfect 3 and D guy. NCAA Champion. They didn’t have Ariza at the time, I like him just as much as Jackson. I dont know, I’d bet on him learning behind Ariza for a year and then maybe stepping into a bigger role. Going into his second contract I can see him being a better player than Zhaire as well as whoever the 76ers get with the Miami pick. Will he be better than both mid first rounders put together? That’s tough, but in the playoffs good players play 3/4 of the game anyways. Have I watched pheonix’s preseason games? Nope. Just a Villanova fan who thinks you shouldn’t give up on him just yet.

[220Participant]

 I wasn’t trying to speak badly of Bridges I just don’t see why the Suns made the deal if he wouldn’t be in the rotation. I was surprised the 76ers dealt him until you consider the insane deal offered. If the Suns made a more realistic offer Bridges is a rotation player for the 76ers this preseason and into the season (assuming he didn’t get the Sixers high pick injury curse). It’s just odd to see a team deal two  first round picks and barely play the player they acquired. 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

To be honest, I wasn’t as high on bridges as a prospect as most were. I view him as being somewhat one-demonsional on offense. While he theoretically seems to fit the mold of a 3 and d guy, he struggles to make plays off the bounce. He doesn’t necessarily need to be an elite ball-handler or primary playmaker, but if he can’t at least beat his man off close outs and get to the rim or find the open man, I believe he will struggle. I’m also not sure if he’s as versatile on defense as he is being projected to be. He has a naturally thin frame and I kind of question if he can add that much strength, which could limit his ability to guard front court players. He sort of reminds of a slightly less athletic Wesley Johnson coming out of college, although I’m not necessarily predicting his career will mirror Johnson’s.

[KIP BallerParticipant]

 The Suns made the trade to find a piece that compliments the future of their roster. Although he wont have a huge role on the team this year, as soon as Ariza leaves Bridges will fit right into his role as D-3 next to their stars. Zhaire Smith wouldnt have made an impact this year (Im not sold on him as a high level NBA prospect) and if you look out to the 2021 miami pick, that will probably end up being a mid 1st that needs at least a year or 2 to develop. So they traded a pick where they didnt love any of the players and a mid-level prospect (miami pick) that wouldnt even contribute for 5 +/- years. I think it is a good trade of Suns 

 

[220Participant]

 You could be absolutely right, although I’m fairly certain the Suns only took Zhaire Smith because that’s who the 76ers wanted to make the deal happen. As for Miami’s pick it’s hard to say what will happen that far out. I imagine Pat Riley will walk away at some point and then what happens to Miami. All the Heat’s success in the past 20 years or so was due to Riley and I’m not sure the Heat’s big 3 even come together without his moves and influence. A big part of that trade rests on a pick that’s incredibly hard to say where it may fall. The Heat have been in the lottery multiple times in even Riley’s era despite 5 finals appearances and 3 NBA championships. I’m not saying this is a bad trade for Phoenix, it could end up being really good or it could be one of those trades that the franchise massively regrets depending on how things go 

 

 

 

 

[festar35Participant]

I really feel like they will package Josh Jackson and go after a starting PG.

Mikal Bridges I think will be a perfect 3 and D wing in the mold of Ariza, so Ariza can mentor him and play along side him as well.

Booker, Ayton & Bridges are their core.

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 Suns don’t know what the hell they’re doing..You have a ton of SF’s and a lack of PG’s…4 years ago they had a ton of PG’s and no SF’s….Poorly ran organzation. 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Mikal Bridges is a good prospect but as a Suns fan we already have TJ Warren as a starter at SF and drafted Josh Jackson 4th last year who is also mainly a SF then we signed Ariza who is also a SF when we have a need at PG. 

Some of the guys may be able to play some SG but our best player Devin Booker takes most minutes in that position unless he takes over at point for some time.

Ryan Anderson will take minutes at PF and so will Bender but we might see Jackson play some minutes there too and Bridges in a smallball line up.

There may be a logjam at the moment but Ariza, Tyson Chandler and Anderson won’t be around long term so the Suns will have a core of:-

PG – ?

SG – Booker

SF – Warren/Bridges/Jackson

PF – Bender/Jackson/Bridges

C – Ayton/Bender

If the long term plan does work then I can see logic of the trade we did with Philly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

Alot of people compared Bridges to Ariza predraft as an average expectation of how he would developed. Like worst case scenerio Austin Daye, likely Trevor Ariza, best case scenerio Kawhi Leonard is what I was hearing. If your the Suns and your at the bottom of the standings rebuilding with a ton of high draft picks why not bring in Ariza and have Bridges learn from him and compete with him for minutes.

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