The Arizona Republic begins a three-part series on the Phoenix Suns with a look at the franchise’s offseason moves for the 2026-27 season.
Overall grade: B-
The Suns brought back three key contributors from last year’s playoff team, maneuvered to land a talented rookie in the first round of the 2026 draft who shined in Summer League and signed one of the league's best 3-point shooters after trading two guys who greatly helped space the floor for them the last three seasons.
However, they dealt an unprotected first-round pick in that same trade for a talented player with a past that has upset some fans. After taking a deep dive into the off-court issues, the Suns are trusting this move won’t negatively impact the chemistry and culture they established last season
under first-year coach Jordan Ott.
'I love our team'
The Suns went into the offseason with an emphasis on continuity and player development.
“I love our team," Suns team owner Mat Ishbia said April 30 in an end-of-season press conference. “I believe in the team we have.”
Phoenix stayed true to its word for the most part and received overall praise for what it pulled off this summer.
The Suns re-signed 7-footer Mark Williams and unrestricted free agents Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin. Williams was a restricted free agent.
They traded into the first round to land Arizona freshman Koa Peat and signed Luke Kennard, who last season led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage for the third time in his career. Peat, who led Gilbert Perry to four state championships and Arizona to the 2026 Final Four as a freshman, averaged 16.8 points in Summer League action in Las Vegas.
Readers were asked to vote in polls posted on X and separately on azcentral.com for their overall grades.
Fifty-five percent of those who voted on Suns Insider Duane Rankin’s X poll gave Phoenix a B grade for its offseason moves. That's on 763 votes as of Thursday evening, Aug. 6. Several readers offered comments.
“These moves would be an A for a team that is close to true contention. Seeing that they still aren't in that contender category, it drops the grade to a B for me.” – @iamjoshdouglas.
VOTE: Grade Suns offseason.
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) August 4, 2026
Re-signed Mark Williams, Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin.
Traded Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, 2033 1st-rd pick to Hornets for Miles Bridges, 2029 1st-rd pick, 2027 2nd-rd pick.
Added Luke Kennard.
Comments will run in three-part series. #Suns
Most of the votes came before Dillon Brooks agreed to a three-year, $73-million extension through the 2029-30 season. The Republic confirmed the deal Aug. 5.
“Add in extending Dillon, anything less than a B is questionable.” – @DaBoogieMayne.
Then there’s the Miles Bridges trade.
The Suns dealt Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and a 2033 unprotected first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets last month for Bridges, a first-round pick in 2029 and a second-round pick in 2027.
The Suns are over the first tax apron, but under the second apron.
The move not only turned heads, but it has been frowned upon by a noticeable, very vocal portion of the fan base because of what 28-year-old Bridges has done off the court. Bridges was involved in a domestic violence incident with the mother of his children, for which the NBA served him with a 30-game suspension without pay in April 2023.
“Absolutely despicable to add a violent woman beater to our roster. Some things shouldn't be forgiven and certainly not forgotten. This is an insult to the fans, particularly female fans, and the other players on the team who don't violently beat women half to death but are under contract to carry his stink with them. I'm not buying another jersey or ticket or streaming package until he's gone.” – Jessica McCauley commented in The Republic poll.
Out of 362 votes on The Republic poll, 35.64% of the voters gave the Suns a F grade, just slightly above 34.53% who handed out an B grade as the poll closed Thursday evening, Aug. 6.
Bridges was initially charged with three felonies related to the incident. He pleaded no contest to a felony charge of injuring a child's parent and was sentenced to three years of probation and no jail time. The other two felony charges were dropped.
He missed the entire 2022-23 season. In recognition of that outcome, the NBA deemed 20 games of the suspension had already been served.
The trade is viewed by fans on X as the lone slight for Phoenix this offseason
“Everything except Bridges trade were good moves, so B.” – @NakedOne83.
“B because I'm not sure the Bridges trade is that much valuable to that team with (Rasheer) Fleming available.” – @FrenchValleyFR.
Phoenix giving up an unprotected first-round pick is a huge part of why fans are criticizing the trade.
“Gotta be a B. Re-signings and draft were as good as it gets. Bridges trade is a question mark due to whether he solves the Suns' weaknesses and where the 2033 pick will fall.” – @SunderousDunk.
“I would have rather used the 2033 1st round pick to get Josh Giddey rather than Miles Bridges. Booker thrives with a true point guard.” – @Ridunkulus.
“B because we still don’t have a PG and our starting 5 overlaps a lot. (Devin Booker and Jalen Green/Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges).” @dbookownsyou.
The Suns are standing firm with their decision, saying Bridges will help the team on the court and is a good “character” and “cultural” fit off it.
The 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward averaged 17.1 points on 46 percent shooting, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 77 games last season in helping the Hornets post their first winning record since 2021-22.
“We conducted a thorough evaluation where we, where we, you know, looked at the conduct, the seriousness of that," Suns general manager Brian Gregory said during Bridges’ introductory press conference last month. "We also looked into was there accountability taken? Was there remorse? Was he growing as a person off the court? When we put all those together, we came to the conclusion and feel very, very, very strongly about the fact that he does and will live up to the standards that we have here.”
Still, fans expressed criticism for the Bridges that spilled over into their overall feelings about Phoenix’s offseason.
“It would have been very good if they hadn't brought in that guy from the Hornets. Since they did — and the way it went down, at that — overall it ranged from mediocre to bad.” – @TheDarkN1gth.
“D for sure. They got worse and somehow lost assets in order to do so. It’s the type of off season that gets people fired. The saving grace of the whole franchise might end up being the young guys. Between (Khaman) Maluach, Fleming and Peat, that’s still exciting for the future. Still doesn’t make it a good off season.” – @JDW303i.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Suns trade changed fans' view of offseason. Part I of poll results
