The Charlotte Hornets capitalized on Nick Richards' value by sending him to the Phoenix Suns. The haul they got was Josh Okogie and three second-round picks.
Technically, they ended up with just two second-rounders after sending a 2025 pick to the Suns in the package. It's worth noting, though, that it is reportedly originally the Denver Nuggets', so it would probably be near the end of the draft.
Some may be wondering if that was the best the Hornets could have done in a Richards swap. It's tough to say, but perhaps the market for the center wasn't as robust as the rumors have made it out to be. On the other hand, the front office is likely not yet done in the trade market, especially when some of its veterans could continue generating interest from other organizations.
Suns apparently wanted a different Nick Richards trade package
Like their recent trade partner, the Suns also remain active in looking for other deals, particularly one for former starting center Jusuf Nurkic. Richards' arrival all but confirms the notion that Phoenix is done with the veteran.
Interestingly, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Suns wanted to ship the "Bosnian Beast" to Charlotte and tried to pry away Cody Martin. The Hornets apparently declined the offer, as absorbing Nurkic's guaranteed salary of $19.38 million for the 2025-26 campaign didn't sound appealing.
Fortunately for Buzz City, Phoenix likely didn't issue a take-it-or-leave-it proposal. Otherwise, Richards would have still been a Hornet.
It's intriguing to imagine how Nurkic would have fared in Charlotte. The team would have found great use for his rebounding and ability to stretch the floor somewhat. However, at 30 years old, he has declined on defense and wouldn't have been that much of an upgrade over Richards in that department.
Furthermore, having the veteran would have been another hurdle to Moussa Diabate's development. It has become clear that the young Frenchman is ready for a larger role (and a standard contract) with the Hornets. His offensive skills may still need refinement, but he has assets that neither Richards nor Nurkic have — youth and potential.
It remains to be seen what's next for Charlotte. However, if its decision to avoid Nurkic and hold onto Martin for a little longer was accurate, fans should rest assured that the new ownership and top brass aren't prone to falling into the trap of gunning for win-now moves that have caused the franchise to remain in the bottom half of the standings in the past years.