OT: Nick Richards Traded. Center Market Watch

[HomoSapien]

The Phoenix Suns have acquired Nick Richards and one second round pick from the Charlotte Hornets for Josh Okogie and three second round picks. The Hornets will receive second round picks originating from the Denver Nuggets in 2026 and 2031, as well as a 2031 second via the Suns. The Suns will receive Denver's 2025 second round pick.

This may have set the trade market for centers. Richards is very solid, but Vuc is better. Charlotte basically gets two second round picks, and swap their 2025 Nuggets pick for a 2026 Nuggets pick. Not sure why that was the done, but maybe they are rolling the dice that the Nuggets are worse next year.

I believe it was reported awhile back that the Suns were interested in Vuc, but there wasn't really a trade that made sense for us.

[Hangtime84]

I like Richards looks like market gonna be pricey for Vuc meaning a mid to late first.

[Muzbar]

I don't know if that means anything regarding Vuc. Nic Richards contract was 5m and he was quite productive in his time on the court. Vuc is paid 4 times that amount, whilst it's not hard to match, it's not as easy as 5m.

It'll still be 2nds for Vuc, IMO.

[meekrab]

This has nothing to do with the players and everything to do with their contracts, it saves Phoenix $21 million in luxury tax while Charlotte buys two 2nds for the $3 million actual salary difference.

[MrSparkle]

I bet AK is gonna hard bargain on Vuc. He doesn’t want to look like he ditched a franchise player in Franz (and Lauri) to center around Vuc (no pun intended), and have a pair of 2nds to make up for it.

Meaning, Vuc ain’t goin. GSW is gonna settle on Zach. Plus, believe me- Vuc is still a tank king, regardless of his 40% 3ball (and dropping). Free cheese every night at the United center.

[Michael Jackson]

I bet AK is gonna hard bargain on Vuc. He doesn’t want to look like he ditched a franchise player in Franz (and Lauri) to center around Vuc (no pun intended), and have a pair of 2nds to make up for it.

Meaning, Vuc ain’t goin. GSW is gonna settle on Zach. Plus, believe me- Vuc is still a tank king, regardless of his 40% 3ball (and dropping). Free cheese every night at the United center.

Maybe but 4 years of service and at this age it really isn’t a comparison at this point.

[dougthonus]

The Phoenix Suns have acquired Nick Richards and one second round pick from the Charlotte Hornets for Josh Okogie and three second round picks. The Hornets will receive second round picks originating from the Denver Nuggets in 2026 and 2031, as well as a 2031 second via the Suns. The Suns will receive Denver's 2025 second round pick.

This may have set the trade market for centers. Richards is very solid, but Vuc is better. Charlotte basically gets two second round picks, and swap their 2025 Nuggets pick for a 2026 Nuggets pick. Not sure why that was the done, but maybe they are rolling the dice that the Nuggets are worse next year.

I believe it was reported awhile back that the Suns were interested in Vuc, but there wasn't really a trade that made sense for us.

Yeah, the Suns would have probably done some swap with Nurkic and Vuc and sent us picks except because of the 2nd apron, they weren't allowed to and had no way to match the salaries legally.

[dougthonus]

I bet AK is gonna hard bargain on Vuc. He doesn’t want to look like he ditched a franchise player in Franz (and Lauri) to center around Vuc (no pun intended), and have a pair of 2nds to make up for it.

Meaning, Vuc ain’t goin. GSW is gonna settle on Zach. Plus, believe me- Vuc is still a tank king, regardless of his 40% 3ball (and dropping). Free cheese every night at the United center.

I think enough time has passed up that no one is still worried about what we gave up to get Vuc. I think it's especially true that only a few die hard fans even connect the dots between Lauri and Vuc, but you could also connect them as much between Lauri and Pat.

Either way, I don't expect there to be a market for Vuc really. He's played well, but the reality is all the majority of teams that want to add have severe restrictions due to the aprons, and the mechanics of a lot of trades are just impossible to figure out even if there is interest and assets. That's just a piece of the NBA for a couple years until people better manage the aprons.

[ChettheJet]

The same teams would be interested in Vucevic as before this trade.

The Suns can get by bringing in a defensive, rebounding center who doesn't take many shots because they have 4 scorers to put on the floor with him. They don't want a Vuc type who needs the ball to score and contribute. The Bulls still looking for a team who needs more scoring and isn't going to wring their hands over his defense.

[kodo]

I feel like the 2nd round picks were financial, not because Richards was so much better than Okogie. Richards is dirt cheap at $5M even for a simple run & dunk guy.
TBH this is probably like what we could have got for Drummond last deadline.

[ChiTownHero1992]

I agree with some of the other posters, I think this is mighty insignificant in comparison, contracts, age and all other factors make these two players non-comparable in my opinion. If they were both in the 28-32 range and making $20ish mil, then sure i'd say we'd easily get more for Vuc then Richards but thats not the case, Richards is younger and cheaper and thats that