Pacific Division Roundup: Suns Detail Bridges Vetting, Warriors Trade Buzz, Lakers Announce Preseason
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Phoenix, AZ — Suns general manager Brian Gregory said the club conducted an extensive review of Miles Bridges’ off-court history before completing the recent trade with Charlotte. Speaking Wednesday at Bridges’ introductory press conference, Gregory explained that the front office weighed accountability, remorse and personal growth alongside on-court value.
“When we put all those together, we feel very strongly he will meet our standards,” Gregory told reporters. The forward’s 2022 felony domestic-violence case led to a plea agreement and three years’ probation. Bridges, who missed the entire 2022/23 season as a free agent, served a 10-game suspension to open 2023/24 after re-signing with the Hornets.
Bridges said he has been in counseling since the incident and is “prioritizing being better as a man every day … and earning the trust of this fan base.”
Suns Comfortable Moving Unprotected Pick
Gregory added that Phoenix had “no hesitation” sending an unprotected 2033 first-rounder to Charlotte, noting the trade also brought back a least-favorable 2029 first. “We’re always gonna be good,” he said, anticipating the 2033 selection will land in the draft’s back half.
Warriors Notes: LeBron Fit, MPJ Talks
Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area wrote that LeBron James and injured Heat star Jimmy Butler possess similar skill sets that could clash if both eventually suit up for Golden State. While the Warriors reportedly view landing James as unlikely, Poole cited the potential overlap as another reason speculation persists about a Butler-for-Anthony Davis scenario.
Separately, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports reported that head coach Steve Kerr opposed trading for Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. at February’s deadline, a move the front office ultimately passed on.
Lakers Reveal Preseason Schedule
Los Angeles published its 2026 preseason slate earlier this week. The Lakers open with road games in Sacramento on Oct. 5 and Golden State on Oct. 6, then host the Kings on Oct. 8 and the Nuggets on Oct. 16. A neutral-site matchup with the Warriors is set for Oct. 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Source: Hoops Rumors
