Official: Richards to Phoenix

[Scoot McGroot]

Who was paying Josh $8.2 million? Okogie was literally given this contract for this exact reason to get some sort of an upgrade as a filler. Any athletic person over 6’5 is an upgrade for this roster. I’m not even a fan of Richards & wish they would’ve gave up the 2028 2nd instead of both 2031 2nds but to get an athletic center on a decent contract and rid of a guard who was getting DNPs is a win to me.

It sucks that JO actually improved. Maybe he’ll come back when Charlotte declines his option.

They don’t have a 2028 2nd? They’re now down to the 2025 Denver 2nd they just got and their 2031 1st. That’s it. And Okogie can play.

Sure, they saved $20m, but essentially any small deal could have provided massive savings like this. Richards is more athletic than Nurkic/Plumlee, but he’s not terribly good. He’s fine. But making his move now and giving up so many picks really eliminates a lot of options now.

I thought they had a 28 fake top 55 protected 2nd and was wrong. They still have their 1sts in 26,28, 30. They can easily trade down like they did this past draft and load up on 2nds. Also take a bad contract for Nurkić in the summer and get 2nds. There’s like 3 or 4 teams that have every 2nd round pick. I’m sure they’ll trade some.

Kind of? Those 26/28/30 1sts already are burdened with offering two different swap rights, so it’s got no upside opportunity and a lot of downside. A lot less room to trade down? But even then, they can’t trade down until draft night, so now they have to wait 2 drafts before they can trade down?

As for Nurkic, I thought the issue is that he’s so bad, he needs replaced and traded now? And as a 2nd apron team, they can’t take back more salary, just longer. And how many smaller, but longer contracts do you see teams willing to swap for Nurkic? And, again, as a 2nd apron team, they can’t trade cash for picks anymore, and can’t add salary in trade, so they can’t eat bad contracts to get paid with picks…..

There’s trouble brewing.

[Scoot McGroot]

They don’t have a 2028 2nd? They’re now down to the 2025 Denver 2nd they just got and their 2031 1st. That’s it. And Okogie can play.

Sure, they saved $20m, but essentially any small deal could have provided massive savings like this. Richards is more athletic than Nurkic/Plumlee, but he’s not terribly good. He’s fine. But making his move now and giving up so many picks really eliminates a lot of options now.

Did they get a TPE?

IMO A+ move for the Suns. Everyone in this market is looking for a rim protecting center, and they got one at a non-terrible price.
They need to move Nurk, perhaps they will try to take on a longer contract for a better fit.

Yes they got a $3.2 million TPE. Charlotte used their TPE and we got the rest. I don’t even know what these people are overreacting about. Suns needed to get rid of their guards and get either a 6’7+ wing or athletic center. We got one on a cheap contract and saved $20 million. We also didn’t have any 2nd round picks left last year & got 3 trading down 6 spots in a weak draft. Maybe it’s because they think we traded away every pick until 2031 but we have all even years until then and can trade them at the draft.

Uh, we at this forum understand how Stepien Rules work better than 95+% of nba fans at large?

[MasterIchiro]

I'm guilty of not knowing much about Richards. I've used him in 2k more than I've seen him in real life

Does he also lead 2K in moving screen violations and torpedo possessions?

[DetroitSho]

Rather than trade for Butler, I wonder if they can now find a deal to move Nurkic + their 2031 1st for a good wing defender.

There is still value to be had in a deal that has Nurkic used to salary match a player and Allen used to match another. Allen and the first is solid value and you could get 2 useful players back--ideally as you state a wing defender but they still need another big as well.

Allen for Stewart would give them a serviceable center rotation of Stewart/Richards/Ighodoro if Detroit is amenable. Then you figure out how to fill out the depth chart with a Nurkic + 1st trade, as you say.

The answer to that from Detroit's end would be a resounding no.

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[MasterIchiro]

They don’t have a 2028 2nd? They’re now down to the 2025 Denver 2nd they just got and their 2031 1st. That’s it. And Okogie can play.

Sure, they saved $20m, but essentially any small deal could have provided massive savings like this. Richards is more athletic than Nurkic/Plumlee, but he’s not terribly good. He’s fine. But making his move now and giving up so many picks really eliminates a lot of options now.

I thought they had a 28 fake top 55 protected 2nd and was wrong. They still have their 1sts in 26,28, 30. They can easily trade down like they did this past draft and load up on 2nds. Also take a bad contract for Nurkić in the summer and get 2nds. There’s like 3 or 4 teams that have every 2nd round pick. I’m sure they’ll trade some.

Kind of? Those 26/28/30 1sts already are burdened with offering two different swap rights, so it’s got no upside opportunity and a lot of downside. A lot less room to trade down? But even then, they can’t trade down until draft night, so now they have to wait 2 drafts before they can trade down?

As for Nurkic, I thought the issue is that he’s so bad, he needs replaced and traded now? And as a 2nd apron team, they can’t take back more salary, just longer. And how many smaller, but longer contracts do you see teams willing to swap for Nurkic? And, again, as a 2nd apron team, they can’t trade cash for picks anymore, and can’t add salary in trade, so they can’t eat bad contracts to get paid with picks…..

There’s trouble brewing.

I'm all about the Booker sweepstakes for Charlotte. Locked and loaded.

[HartfordWhalers]

Did they get a TPE?

IMO A+ move for the Suns. Everyone in this market is looking for a rim protecting center, and they got one at a non-terrible price.
They need to move Nurk, perhaps they will try to take on a longer contract for a better fit.

Yes they got a $3.2 million TPE. Charlotte used their TPE and we got the rest. I don’t even know what these people are overreacting about. Suns needed to get rid of their guards and get either a 6’7+ wing or athletic center. We got one on a cheap contract and saved $20 million. We also didn’t have any 2nd round picks left last year & got 3 trading down 6 spots in a weak draft. Maybe it’s because they think we traded away every pick until 2031 but we have all even years until then and can trade them at the draft.

You might have 1sts those years, but not necessary your own. I believe there are multiple swaps in place on all those firsts. The are about as mortgaged as a team can get.

Yep, there are full swaps and 3-4 team swaps at that.:
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

[JimmyPlopper]

I'm guilty of not knowing much about Richards. I've used him in 2k more than I've seen him in real life

Does he also lead 2K in moving screen violations and torpedo possessions?

[Sactowndog]

Read on Twitter

Just once I would love to see an official trade posted as a hypothetical and watch both fan bases scream how unrealistic it is.

[meekrab]

Saving $21 million will buy a lot of scouts to replace those far future 2nds with undrafted guys.

[gambitx777]

Solid deal kind of wild they blow 3 seconds4 a back up but damn they had too I guess.

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[MoneyTalks41890]

Saving $21 million will buy a lot of scouts to replace those far future 2nds with undrafted guys.

I’d do it for just a fraction of that

[SkyBill40]

The death of the Suns will be brutal.

We're barely alive as is, my dude.

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[amcoolio]

Richards is the very definition of "average NBA player". Hornets had a better player waiting in the wings in Diabate. I'm glad we were able to move him.

[Devilanche]

Solid deal kind of wild they blow 3 seconds4 a back up but damn they had too I guess.

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The meat of the deal is definitely the 20m saved .

The player is just the headline news.

[hcsilla]

Hmm even less assets left to dump beal for butler now

Which was highly unlikely from Day1, but future (late) 2nd rounders would have hardly made the difference anyway.

[KembaWalker]

no Hornets fan was ever asking or expecting a first for Nick Richards, just for the record

[JMAC3]

Richards going to provide the Suns with what Gafford provides the Mavs at 40% of the cost.

Averaging 11/10 in 22 mpg through 3 games.
Gafford in 2 yrs with Mavs 11.8/6.6 in 21 mpg.