I don't think it has much do do with Richardson as a player. The Suns need help especially at the C-F position and possibly at back-up PG. Since the Suns are over the LT, Richardson represents one of the few areas where the Suns might be able to squeeze some dollars besides Pavlovic. It's really going to be sad if Lopez and Frye are the best the Suns can offer at center. It seems the Suns are content to wait for scraps to fall from the table. Personally I like Richardson as a player.
Yes. The issue is his contract. However, without Richardson, we have a big hole at the 2. Yes we need improvement at the pf and center position, but that depends on how Frye, Clark, and Lopez develop. One of the problems is that we need backcourt D and Richardson doesn't make up for Nash's deficiencies in that area. We need a long range bomber who plays great D. I am not sure if that guy is available.
Hill has been a better than average defender for us, and Clark seems to excel in that area already. With those two, D on the 2-4 positions seems solid. If Lopez could be a little less spastic, he actually could be a decent defender at the 4-5. That still leaves us with some trouble defending the 1. Dragic shows signs, but there are just not very many in the league at all who can defend the speedy pg's. In fact, I do not know anyone.
Expect some rookie pg's this year to really do well.