The Phoenix Suns acquired Nick Richards and a pick from the Charlotte Hornets for Josh Okogie for a pick and the trade is interesting for the Suns.
Details from Shams Charania are below:
“The Charlotte Hornets are trading center Nick Richards and a second-round pick for Phoenix Suns forward Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, sources told ESPN.
“The Hornets are sending Denver’s 2025 second-rounder to Phoenix, trading 2026 Nuggets second-rounder and 2031 second-rounders (Denver, Phoenix) to Charlotte, sources said.”
A trade isn’t the most important thing for either team, but it could be the start of Phoenix making room on the table for a big trade – one for Jimmy Butler perhaps.
Shams also said that Richards “looks like he’s going to compete with him to be a star in the middle of the Sun” since Jusuf Nurkic is out of the starting rotation and Mike Budenholzer seems to be out of favor.
The Suns ranked last in the NBA in points from their starting point guard, with Nurkic and starter Mason Plumlee and rookie Oso Ighodaro throwing the ball away in frustration.
Richards can hopefully provide the spark the Suns are looking for, averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 21 games this season, his fifth with the Hornets.
He has been more productive in his nine starts this season, averaging 11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in those contests.
According to ESPN Research Richards shot 65 percent from the field over the past four seasons, fifth best in the NBA during that time (min. 800 attempts).
As for Charlotte, get a look at the defensive-minded wing in Okogie, who is guaranteed to be club-friendly through the 2025-26 season.
READ MORE: Draymond Green Trolls Jusuf Nurkic Amid Ongoing Beef
Source link
