After 2 years of trade rumors, Nick Richards is heading to Phoenix
Small financial implications, my trade grades, and what’s next for the Suns and Hornets
Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Hornets and Suns have agreed to a trade. Nick Richards and a Denver 2025 second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Josh Okogie and three future second-rounders. Of those three seconds, the Hornets will get Denver’s 2026 and 2031 seconds, and the Suns’ 2031 seconds.
This deal has been in the rumor mill for about a week now. At first, many thought it would be Jusuf Nurkic heading to the Hornets. Charlotte did not want Nurkic’s contract, which had 2 years and $ 37.5 million left. In a Nurkic deal, the Suns would have also acquired one of Vasilije Micic, Cody Martin, or Grant Williams to make the salaries work. It did not happen, and we ended up with Josh Okogie for Nick Richards in a pretty straightforward one-for-one swap.
What the trade means for Phoenix:
Trade Grade: B+
The Suns traded all of their remaining second-rounders for Richards. They get one back from Charlotte to help compensate for the loss. This team needed a center. Richards will likely start for the Suns. He is averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds per game in 21 minutes. On top of that excellent production, he also averages a block per game, which is a major help for a team that struggles on the defensive end. The Suns cleared $20 million in tax dollars, and created a small $3.2 million trade exception (it may not be used, but why not).
While I do like this deal for the Suns, I feel like I want to see how they play. This team has been mostly on a downward spiral, there’s not a lot of good outside of Booker, Durant, and their rookies Dunn and Ighodaro.
What’s next for the Suns? Something that caught my eye the last few weeks has been Grayson Allen. I wonder since Phoenix has now used up a majority of their assets, do they part ways with Allen now? Trading Allen would make a lot of sense. Using his $15 million salary Phoenix could acquire players under that number, along with some draft capital. I truly think that would benefit this team, as long as they believe Allen is replaceable.
The Suns will likely continue shopping Jusuf Nurkic and now Mason Plumlee, who becomes somewhat expendable after this trade. Looking at their minimum guys like Tyus Jones, Bol Bol, or Monte Morris, they could try to flip one for a second-rounder.
Phoenix is going to be very interesting for the next few weeks.
What the trade means for Charlotte:
Trade Grade: A
The Hornets are doing an excellent job at acquiring future draft capital, even if it is second-rounders. Getting three late seconds for Richards is amazing work. I also believe that Josh Okogie can help the Hornets on the defensive end.
What’s next for the Hornets? Okogie fits this Hornets team really well, and probably opens the door for a Cody Martin or Josh Green trade down the line. They will continue to look for trade for Martin and Micic. Getting off those contracts, especially Micic's, could be slightly challenging. I do not expect anything big from the Hornets, I do not expect them to trade someone like Miles Bridges. We’ll see what the rest of the deadline looks like in Charlotte.