Report: Suns trade Josh Okogie to Hornets for center Nick Richards

The Phoenix Suns are bringing in a new center.

The Suns reached an agreement to trade for Charlotte Hornets 7-footer Nick Richards on Wednesday afternoon, according to to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In return, the Suns will send guard Josh Okogie to the Hornets along with three future second-round draft picks. The Suns will also receive a future second-round draft pick from the Hornets as part of the deal.

While this isn’t the blockbuster deal that Phoenix has been linked to recently — Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has demanded a trade and the Suns are reportedly among the top teams to land him before the deadline — Richards’ arrival should provide significant help for those inside.

Richards has averaged 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season, his fifth in the league. First picked in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, he has largely come off the bench for the Hornets throughout his career. He’s also shot 65% from the field over the past four seasons, fifth-best in the league over that span. according to ESPN. Richards is in the second year of a three-year, $15 million deal.

Okogie is averaging six points and 2.9 rebounds per game this season, his third in Phoenix. The 26-year-old is in the first year of a two-year, $16 million deal. The Hornets have just an 8-28 record heading into Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz.

The Suns sit at 19-20 ahead of a game on Thursday against the Washington Wizards. Although they have won four of their last six, it came on the heels of a stretch where they lost seven of eight and forced them to change their starting line-up. While Richards coming in doesn’t solve all of their problems, he is undoubtedly a great addition for the team as they approach the halfway point of the season.