Cole Anthony is officially headed to the Phoenix Suns after the Milwaukee Bucks traded him and Amir Coffey to Phoenix on trade deadline day. Milwaukee agreed to trade Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to Phoenix in exchange for Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis. The deal became part of a three-team transaction that also added the Chicago Bulls into the trade, with Richards heading to Chicago instead of Milwaukee.
Anthony's time with the Bucks has been challenging. Anthony was used sparingly by the Bucks this season, with 15.1 minutes per contest across 35 appearances. He averaged just 15.1 minutes per-game, the lowest of his career, averaging 6.7 points and 3.5 assists per contest. The 25-year-old guard had struggled to find his footing in Milwaukee's system, and the Anthony-Antetokounmpo experiment had run its course, especially with the emergence of Rollins as a legit breakout player.
The deal creates significant cap relief for the Suns, with Phoenix now $2.2 million below the luxury tax. Trading Richards creates a $5M trade exception. For the Bucks, Milwaukee moved forward with the trade after informing teams they had decided to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo beyond the trade deadline. So while keeping their superstar was the priority, the team still made this move to adjust their roster. For context on other major trade deadline moves this season, the Cavaliers also made a notable trade acquisition as teams look to bolster their lineups down the stretch.
Anthony, a 25-year-old combo guard who spent his entire career with the Orlando Magic until this season, is averaging 6.7 points and 3.5 assists on 42.4% shooting in 15.1 minutes per game. The hope is that he can earn more playing time with the Suns and prove he can contribute at the NBA level. Whether Anthony becomes a meaningful piece for Phoenix or becomes a buyout candidate remains to be seen as the season heads down the stretch. Either way, the trade deadline has sparked a fresh start for a player looking to reignite his career.