According to ESPN’s Shana Charania, the Charlotte Hornets are trading Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns and getting back Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale. Some picks are changing hands too.

In the report, Shams says the Hornets are giving the Suns a first round pick, and my guess is they’re returning the Suns the pick they gave the Hornets in the Mark Williams trade. Instead, the Hornets will pick up a first round pick in 2033.

Shams came back in to clarify the compensation:

So the 2029 first round pick is the less favorable of I’m assuming all the first round picks the Hornets have in that draft, which is currently their own plus some convoluted mess of pick swaps with the Timberwolves, Cavaliers, and Jazz. I guess we’re throwing the Suns into that mix as well.

In return, the Hornets get an unprotected first round pick in the highly anticipated 2033 NBA Draft. They now have two such picks in that draft, which is certainly something for our children to look forward to.

Bridges’ tenure as the longest active serving Hornet comes to an end. He had managed to climb his way towards the top of a lot of the franchise’s all time records, though a lack of team success and his off court transgressions have stopped him from becoming a fan favorite or franchise legend.

Incoming are too very good role players. Grayson Allen had a down year last season but was an elite 3-point shooter prior to that. If last year just turns out to be a slump, he’ll add more to the Hornets’ explosive cadre of 3-point threats. Royce O’Neale will do the same, as he’s been hovering around 40% from three from several years now, and he does so with good size and defensive ability.

Jeff Peterson and the front office were clearly not content resting on their laurels after the hot finish to last season. They’ve now traded away Bridges and LaMelo Ball, who have been two of the faces of the team over the last several years and two integral pieces in last season’s run. But it’s clear what the front office is trying to build. Ball has had question marks around his durability and play style, while Bridges hasn’t been able to impact the game as much as the box score would suggest. In return, the Hornets have gotten some really physical players in O’Neale and Naz Reid and a veteran shooter in Allen. They’re acquiring players that they know play winning basketball. We’ll get more into this on another post.

So pour one out for Bridges right next to where we poured one out for LaMelo. A new era of Hornets basketball is upon us.