Sources – Suns acquire Nick Richards in trade with Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are trading center Nick Richards and a second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for forward Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

The Hornets are sending a 2025 Denver second-rounder to Phoenix, who trades a 2026 Nuggets second-rounder and a 2031 second-rounder (Denver, Phoenix) to Charlotte, sources said.

The Suns, who rank last in the NBA in scoring from their starting center, get some much-needed help at the position with 7-foot Richards, who is averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 21 games this season, his fifth with the Hornets. .

Richards has been even more productive in his nine starts this season, averaging 11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in those contests. He’s shot 65 percent from the field over the past four seasons, fifth-best in the NBA over that span (min. 800 attempts), according to ESPN Research.

The Hornets have accumulated significant draft capital over the past year, acquiring two first-round picks and eight second-round picks in trades since January 2024. They will also get a glimpse of a defensive wing in Okogie, who, like Richards, has a non-team guarantee for the 2025-26 season.

Richards is expected to compete to become the starter at center for the Suns, who have primarily faced Mason Plumlee and rookie Oso Ighodaro in recent weeks. Veteran center Jusuf Nurkic is currently sidelined with the flu, but was moved to the bench for back-to-back games on Jan. 6 and 7 before being removed from Phoenix’s rotation entirely.

Richards, coincidentally, played his last two games for the Hornets against the Suns. He had 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in 25 minutes in the Hornets’ 115-104 win over the Suns on Jan. 7, then had four points, five rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes in a loss Sunday. .

ESPN’s Bobby Marks contributed to this report.