It didn't take long for Nick Richards to show what the Charlotte Hornets are going to miss after sending him away to the Phoenix Suns. He had a stellar debut, scoring 21 and recording game-highs of 11 rebounds and a +22 plus/minus.
However, Suns fans might want to temper their expectations because Richards has been notorious for his inconsistency and occasional head-scratching plays. Maybe playing alongside several stars who can catch the opponents' attention can allow the fifth-year center to thrive, but that remains to be seen.
As for the Hornets, they did well in resisting the reported desire of Phoenix to include Jusuf Nurkic in the trade package. Bringing in the 30-year-old big man and his $19.4 million salary in the 2025-26 campaign wouldn't have aligned with the organization's direction to build toward the future.
Not everyone is pleased with the return the Hornets got
What Charlotte did receive is a defensive-minded swingman in Josh Okogie and a net of two second-round picks. It landed three second-rounders in the deal but also shipped one. It's worth noting, though, that what Buzz City gave up was the least favorable of the Philadelphia 76ers or Denver Nuggets' selection this coming summer. With the Nuggets surging in the standings, that pick would likely fall to the bottom third of the second round of the 2025 draft.
Still, some folks appear to think the Hornets could have done better. According to Marc Stein (subscription required), one way to look at the trade was Charlotte ponying up over $3 million — the difference between the salaries of Okogie and Richards — to acquire two second-round picks.
Interestingly, that perspective means Okogie won't last long in Queen City, with Stein pondering on the likelihood that the 20th overall selection of the 2018 draft could be on the move before the deadline. That would run contrary to Hornets lead executive Jeff Peterson's statement that implied the team is looking to have the veteran stay on board.
Okogie's skill set is definitely something the Hornets can find a use for, especially since he is a solid point-of-attack defender who can also guard four different positions. His efficient shooting (49.1 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from beyond the arc) has also turned heads. However, the question is whether it is worth absorbing his salary of $7.8 million this season and $8.3 million in the next campaign.
With how Charlotte's 2024-25 season has turned out, some fans are probably not thrilled with the team's personnel decisions in recent years. If the Richards-Okogie swap ends up sinking the franchise further, people's faith in the front office would also drop.