Trading for Miles Bridges should be easy decision for Phoenix Suns. Here's why it's not

Trading for Miles Bridges should be an easy decision.

The Charlotte Hornets forward is as talented as any player in the NBA. He can help turn a contender into a champion with his combination of size, speed and athleticism. And he’s got a team-friendly contract that won’t cause squads to blow their budgets trying to build around him.

But trading for Miles Bridges isn’t an easy decision.

Bridges pleaded no contest to brutal domestic violence charges after the mother of his two children said he broke her nose, bruised her ribs, gave her a concussion and choked her until she passed out in front of their kids.

To this, he pleaded no contest. As in, she said he did it, and he didn’t dispute it.

This was in June of 2022.

He was given a three-year probation and suspended 30 games by the NBA.

Then in October 2023, he was charged in another assault. He’s accused of throwing billiard balls at his now ex'-partner's car, smashing the windshield, while she and the kids were inside. Meanwhile, his new girlfriend was said to have been screaming at his ex and kicking her vehicle. He’s also accused of telling his ex that if she reported him, he wouldn’t pay her child support.

Bridges is due in court on this second case on Feb. 20, and it could be that he’s prepared, willing and able to prove his innocence.

But the trade deadline is Thursday.

NBA trade deadline approaches: Should Phoenix Suns make a move or stay put?

If the Phoenix Suns acquire Bridges in a trade before Thursday's deadline, they take on all of this. Every last detail is theirs, even if it turns out for the worst.

Being a professional basketball player isn’t like most other jobs. We cheer for these guys. Our kids cheer for them.

It’s not reasonable to ask them all to be model citizens. And there’s room for guys who are a little edgy. It’s fun to root for a player who’ll elbow or even tackle an opponent to get the ball.

But there are clear lines on the court, indicating where that sort of behavior has to stop.

At the same time, I’m a huge proponent of forgiveness and redemption.

For example, the Baltimore Ravens honored Ray Rice in December, 10 years after his career ended with a video of him slugging his fiancée on an elevator. Rice has done the work of rehabilitation, and enough time has passed that people can trust him.

Rice has gone from part of the problem to part of the solution, and if he could still play, I’d be in favor of a team signing him.

Bridges’ October case is pending, so we can’t assume he’s guilty. (Accusations are not and cannot be the same thing as convictions.) But the previous no-contest plea removes much of the benefit of doubt that I’d typically extend until I heard his side.

Regardless, Bridges can come back from this — if he’s willing to do the work.

I’ve spoken with enough domestic violence survivors and counselors over the years to believe that good can come out of situations that seem hopeless.

Who better, for example, than an accused athlete to donate money to shelters, to pay for survivors’ medical and school bills, to make sure they have safe places to live and reliable transportation for their kids?

Who better to work on transforming men who are or have been part of the problem? Who better to lead and push for a wholesale culture change?

The need is clear. About one in three women have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner, according to federal government statistics. And it often starts young. About 16 million women who’ve been abused say it started in their teens.

I’m not sure professional sports teams are built to take on all of this, by the way. But they have money and smart people working in their PR departments. If they want to do this work, they can. And, frankly, if a team knowingly takes on a player with a background like this, they should want to.

Imagine if Phoenix wasn’t just a place to play ball, but it was the kind of place where a player could find redemption and help correct a massive problem in society.

I don’t know Miles Bridges, so I'm not sure whether he's that guy.

He might be.

But he’s got work to do.

He was first accused a year and a half ago. He got in trouble again a few months ago.

It could be that the second case is easily explained. But he’ll be lucky if he’s not kicked out of the league if it was as bad as the court documents indicate.

I believe in redemption and forgiveness, but it takes time and effort.

Trading for Miles Bridges should be an easy decision ... and maybe it is?

I wouldn’t do it; not right now.

Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @SayingMoore.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns shouldn't trade for Miles Bridges with court case looming