After selecting Deandre Ayton with the first overall pick to kick off the draft, the Suns have agreed to acquire another top-10 prospect. According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link), Phoenix has reached a deal with the Sixers that will send No. 10 overall pick Mikal Bridges to the Suns, with No. 16 pick Zhaire Smith heading to Philadelphia.
In addition to Smith, the Sixers will receive the Heat’s 2021 first-round pick from Phoenix, tweets Charania. The trade is now official.
The Suns were just about to select Donte DiVincenzo when a call came through from Philadelphia about a trade, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7.
By moving from the 1oth pick to the 16th, the Sixers will save about $1MM in cap space, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link), who notes that the extra money will be helpful if Philly decides to make a max offer in free agency.
The first-rounder from Miami will remain unprotected, according to Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). A 2021 selection could be even more valuable if the NBA does away with its one-and-done rule that year, since that year’s top high-school seniors and college freshman could both be draft-eligible for the first time.
[RELATED: NBA: Draft Eligibility Rules Could Change By 2021]
The trade puts an unexpected twist on what was nearly a storybook night for Villanova’s Bridges, who hails from the Philadelphia area. He and his mother both seemed thrilled at the prospect of having him join the Sixers. Instead, Bridges heads west to join a rebuilding franchise in Phoenix.
Arthur Hill contributed to this post.
What a crock.
Man what a kick in the nuts to be traded from your “home team”. His mom has to be pissed!!!
wow I didn’t see this happening
ARE YOU BLEEPING KIDDING ME??????????
I would rather Bridges
Another first rounder for Philly…. Waiting for a big move on their behalf now…. Kawhi?
Wow for so many reasons. Phoenix gets a 3 and D wing they badly need. All of the sudden they potentially have a significantly improved defense, which has been an issue for the last few years
Mikal Bridges doesnt get to stay home, but Philly gets a ridiculous athlete, and similarly disruptive defender, with a lot of upside, and they steal the unprotected pick from the Heat in 2021, which could end up being a big deal.
So now they have Bridges,Warren, and Jackson? That’s a lot of forwards.
Criss, Ayton, Len, too.
Len is gone, Ayton isn’t a forward, and Chriss has to improve defensively. Tons of opportunity for minutes there
Well everyone got that feel good story for about 15 minute. Thanks Phoenix.
@ajetergiftbasket “preach” lol
if this is like… zhaire, 26 and heat pick for kawhi… ok
For a one year rental?
At this point, I don’t care. I cared before the draft. Now I’m throwing my hands up and saying F it. They mucked this draft up. No Bridges No Porter Jr. No DiVincenzo. Trash draft.
Let’s draft Omari or Jalen and then trade them 15 minutes later too. Just go for the jugular.
Perfect… drafted another player to play the same position as Fultz and Smith.
Embiid- Saric – Covington – Fultz/Smith/Shamet – Simmons
Amazingly, I actually had Philly taking Shamet originally, but then changed my mind b/c I felt I may have been reaching. The guy I thought they’d take after I changed it was off the board
Good move for Phoenix, looking better & better there. Also I was a bit disappointed with Mikal been traded away of Philly, but they still get a great prospect, more raw though, but I do like the looks of an unprotected 1st rounder in 3 years time, Philly will need good younger guys on a cheaper contract in those days, that is the thing you have to keep renewing while you winning. Look at Golden State their worst season in years, struggling to win, they were getting older, they realize they need to go younger & retool the team while winning, only way to keep winning, so in that sense to me it looks a very good move from Philly.