The Phoenix Suns made two significant moves to open their offseason, drafting homegrown Arizona product Koa Peat with the final pick of the first round and acquiring forward Miles Bridges in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets. The moves add depth and athleticism to a returning core of Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, and have already caught the attention of the Arizona sports betting market.
A Draft Night the Valley Will Not Forget
Phoenix entered the 2026 NBA Draft holding only the No. 47 pick in the second round. They left it with one of the most talked-about selections of the night. Through a three-team trade involving the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix acquired the No. 30 overall pick and used it to select Koa Peat, a 6-foot-7 forward out of the University of Arizona.
Peat is about as local as it gets. Before starring for the Wildcats and helping lead them to the Final Four, he won four consecutive Arizona state championships at Perry High School in the East Valley, averaging 14.5 points and 5.6 rebounds during his collegiate season. The Suns completed the move by sending three second-round picks and cash to the Knicks to finalize the deal.
The Miles Bridges Blockbuster
On June 28, 2026, the Suns completed a trade with the Charlotte Hornets, acquiring forward Miles Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick. Phoenix sent guards Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale along with an unprotected 2033 first-round pick to Charlotte in return.
Bridges averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists on 46% shooting across 77 games last season. His $22.8 million expiring contract saves Phoenix roughly $20 million in luxury tax obligations and drops the team below the second tax apron, creating flexibility for additional moves in free agency.
The Phoenix Suns Starting Lineup Takes Shape
With the offseason moves largely settled, the projected Phoenix Suns starting lineup entering 2026-27 looks like this: Devin Booker at point guard (now wearing No. 15), Jalen Green at shooting guard, Dillon Brooks at small forward, Miles Bridges at power forward and Mark Williams anchoring the paint at center. Off the bench, Koa Peat provides an immediate, high-energy forward option with upside that few 30th picks carry.
The Suns also locked up key depth pieces with extensions. Mark Williams signed a three-year, $38 million fully guaranteed deal. Collin Gillespie received a four-year, $48 million extension after a breakout campaign. Jordan Goodwin agreed to a three-year, $19 million deal that includes a player option in the final year. Guard Jamaree Bouyea will also return after the front office exercised his $2.58 million team option for the 2026-27 season.
What It Means for Bettors
For anyone following the Suns heading into next season, the recent moves have real implications. A lineup built around Booker, Green and Bridges is more physically imposing and defensively versatile than what Phoenix fielded last year. The Phoenix Suns championship odds have already shifted with the news of the Bridges acquisition, reflecting growing confidence that this team is building toward genuine contention.
