The Phoenix Suns have acquired Nick Richards and picks from the Charlotte Hornets for Josh Okogie for picks and the trade is an interesting one for the Suns.
The details from Shams Charania are below:
“The Charlotte Hornets are trading center Nick Richards and a second-round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns for forward Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, sources told ESPN.
“The Hornets are sending a 2025 Denver second-rounder to Phoenix, which trades a 2026 Nuggets second-rounder and 2031 second-rounders (Denver, Phoenix) to Charlotte, sources said.”
The trade isn’t a super significant one for either team, but it could be the start of Phoenix making room on the cap table for a bigger trade – one for Jimmy Butler perhaps.
Shams also says that Richards “is expected to compete to become the starter at center for the Suns” since Jusuf Nurkic has fallen out of the starting rotation and seemingly fallen out of favor with Mike Budenholzer.
The Suns rank last in the NBA in points from their starting center, with Nurkic and his starting replacements Mason Plumlee and rookie Oso Ighodaro dropping the ball on offense.
Richards can hopefully provide the spark the Suns are looking for is averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 21 games this season, his fifth with the Hornets.
He’s been even 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 has shot 65 percent from the field over the last four seasons, fifth-best in the NBA during that span (min. 800 attempts).
As for Charlotte, receive a look at a defensive-minded wing in Okogie, who has a team-friendly non-guarantee for the 2025-26 season.
READ MORE: Draymond Green Trolls Jusuf Nurkic Amid Ongoing Beef