Signs sign Jalen Bridges, Baylor forward, 2-Way Contract

[Yuma]

The Phoenix Suns and Baylor wing Jalen Bridges agreed on a two-way contract on Thursday, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

In his final season at West Virginia, Bridges averaged 12.2 points on 46.6% shooting and 41.2% from three-point range. He chipped in 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Four years of Power Five ball split between West Virginia (2020-22) and Baylor (2022-24) give the 6-foot-7, 213-pound forward loads of experience. He fits the Cam Johnson mold of a bigger wing-sized shooter, though there was variance in his career: he shot below 33% his sophomore and junior seasons and above 40% his freshman and senior years.

 

[Mainstreet]

Jalen Bridges chose the Suns over other offers.

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[Phrazbit]

He was viewed as a late first or early 2nd round pick on most sites.

Good shooter, has length. 23 years old.

I hve more to sy but n impornt key on my keybord ppers to hve broken.

 

[Covert Rain]

I am really worried about where the bench scoring is going to come from and we still don't have a PG. This is starting to look like a scenario where we are forced to overplay our 3 to keep one of them on the floor at all times just so we can get enough points off the bench.

 

[Bobster]

Let's wait until free agency starts before we start wringing our hands about not adding anyone.

 

[Covert Rain]

Let's wait until free agency starts before we start wringing our hands about not adding anyone.

Which veteran minimum guys do you like that will add plenty of fire power off the bench?

 

[Mainstreet]

He was viewed as a late first or early 2nd round pick on most sites.

Good shooter, has length. 23 years old.

I hve more to sy but n impornt key on my keybord ppers to hve broken.

I will look to see if I can find an extra "a" for you.

 

[Mainstreet]

Which veteran minimum guys do you like that will add plenty of fire power off the bench?

Dennis Smith Jr. or Delon Wright would provide needed depth at point guard, but I'm not looking for firepower at this position. Aaron Holiday might produce more under the right coach.

I wish Jaxson Hayes would come to Phoenix. IMO, he has more to offer than he has shown at center. Also, Daniel Theis plays hard.

Jae Crowder anyone?

 

[Bobster]

Which veteran minimum guys do you like that will add plenty of fire power off the bench?

What firepower were they going to get with the 22nd pick?

 

[Covert Rain]

What firepower were they going to get with the 22nd pick?

My concern is as it stands today they are putting a ton of stock in rookies to shore up the bench. Some of which have suspect offensive skills and we don't know how their games translate. The Suns last year played the hell out of few guys because the bench was so anemic at times. We can only pick up veteran minimum guys because we are over the 2nd apron. We lost Gordon. We might get lucky and some guys get bailed out or are willing to play here for less. It's a legit concern.

 

[Bobster]

My concern is as it stands today they are putting a ton of stock in rookies to shore up the bench. Some of which have suspect offensive skills and we don't know how their games translate. The Suns last year played the hell out of few guys because the bench was so anemic at times. We can only pick up veteran minimum guys because we are over the 2nd apron. We lost Gordon. We might get lucky and some guys get bailed out or are willing to play here for less. It's a legit concern.

I don't think any team looks at late draft choices as players they can plug in as championship-level contributors. You don't even get a lot of those at the top of the first round.

I would assume they see Dunn as a great defensive prospect who they hope they can get to the point where he's dependable enough offensively that he demands important minutes.

What they need to do is sign some minimum salary veterans and hope they have enough gas in the tank or room for improvement to become contributors while being a better fit than Gordon and the crop of minimum contracts last year were.

The group of Metu, Bates-Diop, Eubanks and Watanabe was really underwhelming. So much so that Bol Bol had fans excited.

 

[Mainstreet]

If Damion Lee returns healthy, he should help the scoring.

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't think any team looks at late draft choices as players they can plug in as championship-level contributors. You don't even get a lot of those at the top of the first round.

I would assume they see Dunn as a great defensive prospect who they hope they can get to the point where he's dependable enough offensively that he demands important minutes.

What they need to do is sign some minimum salary veterans and hope they have enough gas in the tank or room for improvement to become contributors while being a better fit than Gordon and the crop of minimum contracts last year were.

The group of Metu, Bates-Diop, Eubanks and Watanabe was really underwhelming. So much so that Bol Bol had fans excited.

That's the level player you can expect though with minimum vet contracts unless they get lucky and someone wants to play here for less.

 

[CardNots]

The group of Metu, Bates-Diop, Eubanks and Watanabe was really underwhelming.

an understatement

 

[JCSunsfan]

Its kinda hard for me to imagine that Jalen Bridges went undrafted. 42% from 3 and 82% from the line. He gets after it defensively, and he has the skill set to score from all over. He is longish for his height. He has a Cam Johnson kinda game. This is a nice pick up. I expect him to be on the roster.

 

[Covert Rain]

Its kinda hard for me to imagine that Jalen Bridges went undrafted. 42% from 3 and 82% from the line. He gets after it defensively, and he has the skill set to score from all over. He is longish for his height. He has a Cam Johnson kinda game. This is a nice pick up. I expect him to be on the roster.

Which makes you think there was a reason. Teams typically don't universally pass on a player unless there is something there. I think it's a solid pickup as well but until I see these guys in action I am skeptical.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Which makes you think there was a reason. Teams typically don't universally pass on a player unless there is something there. I think it's a solid pickup as well but until I see these guys in action I am skeptical.

This was an odd draft. There were a lot of unknowns at the top and a lot of decent players in the second round. The talent level seemed pretty level all the way across. The only players that really stood out to me were Sheppard and Edey. Sheppard because of his athleticism combined with skillset, and Edey because of his size and skillset.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Teams are looking for players to guard Brown, Tatum and Ant

 

[Mainstreet]

Teams are looking for players to guard Brown, Tatum and Ant

I think the Suns found one in Ryan Dunn.

 

[Yuma]

Funny, one guy (Ryan Dunn) is defensively strong, Jalen Bridges is offensively strong.

 

[Sparky16]

If Damion Lee returns healthy, he should help the scoring.

he is terrible, and the worst defender I think i have ever seen. If Curry wasn't his bro in law he would not even be in the league

 

[Sparky16]

I think the Suns found one in Ryan Dunn.

I think this guy is a starter game 1, I think his offense could surprise... has anyone ever seen VA run their offense? its the worst

 

[Chaplin]

I think this guy is a starter game 1, I think his offense could surprise... has anyone ever seen VA run their offense? its the worst

You think he's going to push Grayson out of the lineup? Keep dreaming.

 

[Folster]

I think this guy is a starter game 1, I think his offense could surprise... has anyone ever seen VA run their offense? its the worst

That's a really high expectation, but he could really flourish in a faster and less restrictive system. I'm hoping to see young Marion/Finley energy from him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Some are saying that Bridges is the best player the Suns picked up on draft day. Wow. He is a great shooter and he gets after it defensively.