Suns’ Acquisition of Nick Richards Should Help Immediately in Needed Area of Board Work

January 15, 2025

Suns point guard Tyus Jones said it best — they can’t keep getting beat in the rebounding department. So the Nick Richards trade with the Hornets makes sense.

“It’s costing us games,” Jones said after Tuesday’s road loss to the Hawks, via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “Honestly. It’s costing us games. Rebounding. We get a couple of those rebounds. It changes the outcome.

“It’s a problem for us. Something we have to correct. Otherwise, it’s going to keep hurting us.”

Richards is 7-foot-0 and is averaging 8.9 points on 56.1% shooting, also with 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 21 games this season. As Rankin pointed out, those numbers increase when he starts — 11.3 points on 61.7% shooting, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

And he should be starting in Phoenix alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Jones and Ryan Dunn in the frontcourt.

Meanwhile, former starting center Jusuf Nurkic has been piling up the DNP-CDs. Nurkic was originally who Phoenix discussed moving to Charlotte — as opposed to Josh Okogie, who was actually sent.

“Sources informed The Republic the Suns had previously looked to move Jusuf Nurkic to acquire Richards,” Rankin wrote. “Nurkic was removed from the Suns starting lineup for the Jan. 6 game at Philadelphia. He played that game and the next one at Charlotte off the bench in the second of a back-to-back, but didn’t see action the next two games against Atlanta and Utah.”

As for Richards, Hornets coach Charles Lee offered some high praise earlier this week.

“He brings another physicality to help us finish possessions and offensively, his game continues to grow and grow in terms of what he can do when he seals and he catches it,” Lee said, via Rankin.

“I think he’s made some great reads to either go finish for himself and get fouled or he’s been able to kick out for some open looks for us. He’s just been a great utility piece or tool I would say. I’m proud of the fact that he’s just taking advantage of all the minutes that he’s getting.”