CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a recent trade, the Phoenix Suns secured center Nick Richards along with a second-round draft pick scheduled for 2025 from the Charlotte Hornets. In exchange, the Suns sent guard Josh Okogie and three future second-round picks to Charlotte on Wednesday evening.
The Hornets will receive second-round picks from the Denver Nuggets for 2026 and 2031, as well as an additional second-round selection from Phoenix in 2031. They also agreed to send the Suns a 2025 second-round pick, which will be the least favorable option between those from Denver and the Philadelphia 76ers.
This acquisition addresses a key concern for the Suns, who are currently positioned 11th in the Western Conference with a record of 19-20. Richards, standing at 7 feet tall, brings an average of 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds over five seasons with the Hornets, where he made 74 starts.
Having entered the league as a second-round pick (42nd overall) by the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2020 NBA Draft from the University of Kentucky, Richards was traded to Charlotte on the night of the draft.
Okogie, who has played seven NBA seasons, including the last three with the Suns, has averaged 6.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over a total of 401 games. He participated in 25 games for Phoenix this season, contributing an average of 6.0 points and 2.9 rebounds while hitting 38% of his three-point attempts.
The Hornets, currently struggling with a record of 8-28, are focused on building their future. “This trade gives us a lot of flexibility and options, as we can utilize these picks in future trades,” stated Hornets GM Jeff Peterson. He also indicated that further trades are a possibility for the team as they continue to look toward the future.
