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Here's the presser:

The Phoenix Suns have completed a deal with the Charlotte Bobcats to acquire high-scoring swingman Jason Richardson, according to NBA front-office sources.

The multiplayer deal will require the Suns to part with forward Boris Diaw and defensive ace Raja Bell, two mainstays from the team that averaged 58 wins over the last four seasons under former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.

The Suns will also receive a future second-round pick from the Bobcats and forward Jared Dudley while sending Sean Singletary to the Bobcats.

Crazy stuff.....I'm shocked in both a good and bad way - On the negative, the defensive goodness of Bell will be missed, while moving Diaw is a good move - he's shown he hasn't been able to get to a consistent level of play that is beyond what he provided the last 2 seasons, so I think it's time to move on. Bell wasn't happy with the system and the looks that he was/wasn't getting, and his defensive game looks to have taken a hit too, so while he'll be missed, I think it's good that he's gone.

As far as Jason Richardson is concerned, I'm guessing it's partly about salary reasons and winning now - adding his offense is going to be very solid - but how will he stack up with Amare/Shaq as far as touches is concerned? This brings back memories of a Joe Johnson type in Phoenix, shooting that outside ball and providing that extra scoring option when one of the bigs aren't getting it going.

Also, we are thin in the frontcourt now, with Lopez the only backup to Amare/Shaq - unless Lou starts to get more minutes?

With the further movement of Singletary, Kerr has made it clear that Dragic is the mainstay backup now. I wonder if that will help lift his game. As far as Barbosa and Tucker, I wonder what happens minutes wise with them? How does LB fit with J-Rich? Maybe Porter will be forced to play Dragic & Barbosa at the guards with J-Rich at SF at times? I'm pretty sure Richardson is going to effect Barbosa's role now.....

As far as Jared Dudley, eww, even though I haven't seen him play, I don't like the Dud - maybe good as Shaq's whipping boy at practices?

So many more thoughts.....i think I'll personally cover them on the next episode of Run N Gun.

Great deal for you guys!

Lot's of offense in the desert.

Jason Richardson-G/F-Bobcats Dec. 10 - 6:26 pm et

Jason Richardson has been traded to the Suns along with Jared Dudley and a 2010 second-round pick in exchange for Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and Sean Singletary.
The deal is still pending physicals, but playing with Steve Nash should only do good things for Richardson's value, while Diaw could potentially emerge as the Bobcats starting power forward and is a worthwhile waiver wire target. Just keep in mind that Diaw has never produced outside of Phoenix, so don't expect any miracles. Raja Bell's limited value probably doesn't change much with the deal, though he probably won't attempt quite as many treys in Charlotte.
Source: Arizona Republic

Wow.......I think that the Suns win this trade. Diaw has one of the worst contracts in the league. Why the Bobcats wanted to do this is beyond me......they send out the best player while taking on even more guaranteed $$$ owed. I'm guessing that Bell is still a solid defensive player....but Diaw will do even worse without a PG like Nash overflating his 4 year / $9 mil per year / $36 mil stats ( 8 ppg / 4rpg ).

JRich may not play that much defense....but he's still a way better scoring threat then Bell or Diaw will ever be.

I'm guessing that Jordan must owe Kerr something from their days when they were running with the Bulls.

I hate to see Raja go...I loved him. I really did...but I kinda expected it, he clearly hated Porter.

Thanks Raja, you'll be missed.

Onto the trade...I don't know, Richardson hardly makes us a contender now. I don't know what to think, frankly. This really sounds as a desperation move.

Amazing trade for the Suns. It's sad that MJ is tarnishing his reputation by making such bad deals.

this really sounds like a nightmare, we just traded the Bobcats 2 starters for one of their starters, a scrub, and what the most likely 50th pick in the 2009 draft? Please Kerr, leave arizona. I dont like diaw at all, i like richardson, and wasnt a huge fan of Bell, but this trade just doesnt seem right at all. Something tells me we aren't done with trades this year either.

I'm liking this trade because it gives Shaq his Penny/Kobe/Wade sidekick shooting guard. J-Rich may not be as great as those guys were, but he's not that bad either. I was hoping Leandro Barbosa would step up to play like those guys in terms of taking it to the basket, but that hasn't worked out. Nash is too small, unathletic, and old to be a sidekick. And Shaq with a great PF like Amare hasn't proven to be that great of a combo. Shaq + skilled SG is the combo thats essential to a championship.

We'll miss Diaw in the post. Offensively and defensively. Period.

Get Nashty wrote:Something tells me we aren't done with trades this year either.

Agreed. I wonder if Barbosa is the next to go, removing more of the D'Antoni type players and replacing them with guys Porter likes?

GaliSun wrote:We'll miss Diaw in the post. Offensively and defensively. Period.

+1.

We have no defenders on this team anymore. Zero.

Trade Nash for Davis and let's just be done with it.

So now Porter likes a guard who can't defend? And I thought Mike was the one who only thought about offense...

daveang wrote:

Get Nashty wrote:Something tells me we aren't done with trades this year either.

Agreed. I wonder if Barbosa is the next to go, removing more of the D'Antoni type players and replacing them with guys Porter likes?

Or maybe getting Nash and Amare in a package deal for a highflyer, a nobody, and a 2nd round draft pick just like this trade.....Im really not liking this trade at all, we dumped a contract and guy who didnt like Porter, but all we got is a highflyer back in return.

P.S.- does anyone know when Richardson will be able to play? i know not tonight, but maybe the next game most likely?

What's funny is that Kerr was supposed to be a defensive minded GM, and his entire set of executive moves consisted of getting rid of all of our defenders and replacing em with offensive guys.

Got rid of KT, Raja, Diaw, Marion, Jones... and replaces em with J-Rich, Shaq, Dudley, rookies

He better not start bitchin bout any defensive issues we may have, he's the one entirely responsible for it.

I like Richardson and what he'll bring on offense, but he's gonna have to step it up on the defensive end bigtime since he's taking Raja's spot...

b-ball forever wrote:Got rid of KT, Raja, Diaw, Marion, Jones... and replaces em with J-Rich, Shaq, Dudley, rookies

He better not start bitchin bout any defensive issues we may have, he's the one entirely responsible for it.

I like Richardson and what he'll bring on offense, but he's gonna have to step it up on the defensive end bigtime since he's taking Raja's spot...

Nash
J-Rich
Hill/Barnes
Amare
Shaq

butter???

Wow, we have no proven defender in the entire roster
We may see many 30+ pts performances against us

GaliSun wrote:

b-ball forever wrote:Got rid of KT, Raja, Diaw, Marion, Jones... and replaces em with J-Rich, Shaq, Dudley, rookies

He better not start bitchin bout any defensive issues we may have, he's the one entirely responsible for it.

I like Richardson and what he'll bring on offense, but he's gonna have to step it up on the defensive end bigtime since he's taking Raja's spot...

Nash
J-Rich
Hill/Barnes
Amare
Shaq

butter???

Wow, we have no proven defender in the entire roster
We may see many 30+ pts performances against us

Yeah, Hill and Barnes are our best defenders now

Terry Porter's gonna cry

Get Nashty wrote:

daveang wrote:

Get Nashty wrote:Something tells me we aren't done with trades this year either.

Agreed. I wonder if Barbosa is the next to go, removing more of the D'Antoni type players and replacing them with guys Porter likes?

Or maybe getting Nash and Amare in a package deal for a highflyer, a nobody, and a 2nd round draft pick just like this trade.....Im really not liking this trade at all, we dumped a contract and guy who didnt like Porter, but all we got is a highflyer back in return.

P.S.- does anyone know when Richardson will be able to play? i know not tonight, but maybe the next game most likely?

come on u got rid of a horrible contract and an aging (albeit still good) defender for a near allstar and a prospect. U won the trade.

Absolutely brilliant move for the Suns IMO. I have wanted J-Rich for a couple years. Bell has lost a step and Boris is Boris.

Way to go Kerr, I'm excited about this one.

How does the salaries work out? Suns save any $$$$?

b-ball forever wrote:
Yeah, Hill and Barnes are our best defenders now

Terry Porter's gonna cry

Keep the faith, they will defend if they want to run. Remember Porter's mantra:

"Wanna run? Get stops first!"

Jokes aside, I hope this works well.

I wasn't a big fan of Nash and Q-Rich signings at the time, and then...