Phoenix Suns land Miles Bridges, but fans may question the cost

There’s no way of knowing just how much the addition of Miles Bridges will or won’t help the Phoenix Suns in their efforts to try and keep pace with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA’s Western Conference.

What should be just as curious is how Suns fans feel about their favorite team trading for a player who, in 2022, was arrested, charged and later pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence for assaulting Mychelle Williams in front of the couple’s two children.

That’s every bit as big a part of the story as the news first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania on Sunday, June 28, that the Suns are dealing Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and a 2033 first-round pick to the Hornets for Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.

On the surface, it appears to be a smart basketball move by the Suns, who reportedly have been interested in Bridges for some time and, with the trade, save $20 million in luxury taxes and open a potentially pivotal roster spot ahead of free agency.

But is it a good look for the organization?

Reviewing photos and some of the details from her hospital visit Williams posted on social media after the June 2022 incident won’t help make things easier to explain.

According to a hospital discharge document, Williams was an “adult victim of abuse by male partner,” and it included assault by strangulation, a concussion, a closed fracture of the nasal bone, rib contusion, multiple bruises and a neck muscle strain.

By pleading no contest in November of that year, Bridges avoided jail time and accepted three years of probation without formally admitting guilt in the case. Two felony counts of child abuse were subsequently dropped.

It’s important to note that Bridges, who initially pled not guilty to the charges, missed the entire 2022-23 NBA season as the litigation played out and that he also served an NBA-imposed suspension at the start of the following season.

He essentially paid for his crime, served his suspension, and the Hornets gave him a second chance by offering him a qualifying offer, which he signed. Bridges appeared genuinely sincere upon addressing reporters following his new contract at the time.

“I want to apologize to everybody for the pain and embarrassment that I have caused everyone, especially my family,” he said. “This year away I’ve used to prioritize going to therapy and becoming the best person I can be — someone that my family and everyone here can be proud of.

“I understand that some people don’t think I deserve a second chance,” he added. “That’s why I am trying to use this year to prove to everybody the person that I am. Who is Miles Bridges? It’s not what people think he is.”

Bringing back Bridges wasn’t an easy decision for the Hornets, then-general manager Mitch Kupchak said at the time, telling reporters, “Obviously, it is a polarizing topic. Everybody may not agree. It’s a tough situation to be in.”

That’s exactly where the Suns found themselves before they made the move for Bridges. Hopefully, the Phoenix brain trust did its due diligence and contemplated any blowback or disgruntlement it might receive from the fanbase.

Frankly, I wonder if it will even matter should it occur. If any fans start complaining, it’s not as if owner Mat Ishbia, general manager Brian Gregory and head coach Jordan Ott are going to nix the deal now and pretend the trade never happened.

Besides, let’s not forget the fact that Bridges went to Michigan State, where Ishbia, Gregory and Ott all have significant ties. In today’s Planet Orange, the green of Michigan State has become a primary color of conviction.

Spartans, it’s become more than clear, always stick together under the Ishbia umbrella — rain or shine. That’s not the important thing to remember here, however.

What’s truly important is hoping Miles Bridges sticks to becoming the best man and best father he promised to be when he got his first second chance.

Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. on Roc and Manuch with Jimmy B on ESPN 620 (KTAR-AM) and every Thursday on the Doug Franz Unplugged podcast via Apple or Spotify.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns land Miles Bridges, but fans may question the cost