Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker says Nick Richards has been doing "great" since the trade with Charlotte on Jan. 15.

The Phoenix Suns' center rotation was in a dire state recently. Phoenix hopes trading for Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets will help ease their concerns.

The Suns won't waste any more time after Richards erupted for 21 points (7-8 FG, 7-9 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist and one steal over 29 minutes in his debut against the Pistons on Saturday. With Richards likely to remain in the starting lineup going forward, Mason Plumlee will retreat to the second unit.

The Phoenix Suns have acquired Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets. The move leaves one member of the team in a significantly worse position.

Richards - coupled with rookie stud Oso Ighodaro - will inject a very pointed surge of athleticism into the Suns' lineup. Last season Nick Richards had more dunks (120) than Nurkic and Plumlee combined (100) in 1000 fewer minutes.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards (4) is fouled going up for a shot by Phoenix Suns center Mason ...

The Phoenix Suns officially traded forward Josh Okogie and three second-round picks to the Charlotte Hornets for backup center Nick Richards and a second-round pick, per ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal and big Jusuf Nurkic practiced Friday heading into Saturday’s rematch against the Washington Wizards at Footprint Center to begin a three-game homestand. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer is “hopeful” Beal is able to play against his former team after missing Wednesday’s win over Brooklyn with a left ankle sprain to end a five-game road trip.

New Suns center Nick Richards had a monster game in his debut following the trade with a feat never before seen.

Bradley Beal and Nurkic were benched for the Jan. 6 game at Philadelphia. Nurkic played that game and the next against Charlotte in the second of a road back-to-back, but Suns coach Mike Budenholzer didn't play him the next two games against Atlanta and Utah.

The Phoenix Suns (23-21) are facing some decisions ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6. Phoenix is in talks to trade for Miami Heat all-star Jimmy Butler, recently restocked a once-bare allotment of draft picks and the Arizona Republic reported that Suns’ starting center Jusuf Nurkic and head coach Mike Budenholzer weren’t exactly on speaking terms.