Suns acquire Nick Richards from Charlotte for Okogie & three 2nd rd picks

Ronin

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Shams Charania

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Suns land much-needed help at center with Richards, who’s averaged 11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in nine starts this season. He’s shot 65 percent from the field over the last four seasons, fifth-best in the NBA during that span (min. 800 attempts), per ESPN Research.
 

Covert Rain

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At first I was like 3 freaking 2nd's?!? However, we got one back. That's not a bad deal. We desperately needed this trade. He is a big body and 8.9/7.5 guy. He is a guy that will occasionally get you a double double and a decent defender.
 
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Covert Rain

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By the way, if the market for someone like Okogie, who can be productive, is essentially sending 2 2nd rounders (we sent 3 and got one back), that tells me there is ZERO market for Nurk. Getting someone to take that contract when he hasn't been productive means teams would want more. Looks like we are stuck with Nurk and I bet we tried to move him instead of Okogie. Nurk is going to be an expensive bench rider.

The Suns now have one 2nd round pick and their 2031 1st left that they COULD move.
 
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Shams saying we got a 2nd back so it’s a net of two outgoing.

I believe we only had 3 2nd's so that's good.

Sucks we lost Okogie but I'm not surprised considering he was re-signed as trade bait. Maybe he is bought out. I don't know why a bottom feeder like Charlotte would keep him.
 

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I think this will give this team a little spark. I don’t know mich about the guy, so I’m hoping he’s got a little junkyard dog in him. His high shooting percentage is a bonus but I’m more concerned with rim protection.
 

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Richards is averaging 8.9 ppg with 7.5 rpg and 1.2 blocks in just 21 minutes a game. Those are really good numbers considering the minutes played. We now have a legit deterrent inside who can rebound on both sides also. This was much needed.

I wonder if he'll play alongside Oso. Richards is not a jump shooter. He's more of an old school interior big. Think JaVale McGee type of C.
 

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Gambo called this one a couple weeks ago. He also confirmed Charlotte didn't want Nurk. Sounds like the Suns tried. Charlotte has a mountain of draft capital.
 

Covert Rain

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Gambo is saying that as soon as Richards is acclimated he will be the starting center for the team. Nurk waived and stretched? Gambo thinks Nurk may have played his last game as a Sun.
 

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Wow

I'll miss Josh, but man, did we need this.

Nurk is definitely gone. Wonder with this deal there is something out there for Nurk already.
Who do you really think will take him? I think he is just going to stay home the rest of the season.
 

Covert Rain

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This might be a half measure by the Suns to make one last tweak without going as far as getting Butler. Gambo is saying "they are not out" in terms of Butler but I can't imagine the Suns have enough now with just our 1st and 2nd rounder.

Also, this is a 20 million dollar tax savings for the Suns. The Suns now have a pick in this year's draft (2nd originating from Denver).
 

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Evan Sidery

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By trading Josh Okogie’s $8.3 million salary for Nick Richards at $5 million, the Suns just saved $20 million on their historic tax bill.Phoenix adds their new starting center while saving significant money in the process.
 

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Sucks to give up on Okogie, but, I think you have to do this deal 10/10 times if you're Phoenix, just for roster balance purposes. I wish JO was able to develop a league average 3pt shot because his defense was sorely needed on the team but it just wasn't meant to be.
 

Covert Rain

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Sucks to give up on Okogie, but, I think you have to do this deal 10/10 times if you're Phoenix, just for roster balance purposes. I wish JO was able to develop a league average 3pt shot because his defense was sorely needed on the team but it just wasn't meant to be.
This was inevitable. Okogie is a min player. They overpaid him so they could do a trade later and now it's happened.
 

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This also means Oso 100% has to develop some kind of offensive game. With Richards and Plumlee, it sure would be nice if Oso could slot into that 4 spot once in a while.
That is a long way off. His jumper is non existent, and he has to space with Richards, because Richards has no jumper either.
 

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This was inevitable. Okogie is a min player. They overpaid him so they could do a trade later and now it's happened.
Correction: Okogie was a minimum player WITH VALUE (even though he made 3x the min). There aren't many of those, although we had four (and now three). Mason, Monte and Tyus
 

Covert Rain

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Correction: Okogie was a minimum player WITH VALUE (even though he made 3x the min). There aren't many of those, although we had four (and now three). Mason, Monte and Tyus
I liked Okogie and agree he had some value but that overpay was always about moving him later. Nobody else would have given him 3X the minimum. I do appreciate what he did while he was here and will be rooting for him.
 

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Well I am curious how much difference this guy will make. God knows we need someone with some rim protection and rebounding ability.
 

Covert Rain

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Well I am curious how much difference this guy will make. God knows we need someone with some rim protection and rebounding ability.
Agree. Nobody up to this point cared that Nurk was in the paint. This guy gets about 1.2 blocks per game and shoots 56% on the other end. So, when he is in the paint it appears he is effective. That alone should make SOME difference. The Suns were last in the league in the paint for layups, dunks and got worked nightly by back up centers on the other end.
 

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I also regret Okogie leaving, but Richars is an upgrade at C. Not by much, but it will be a significant one and he has a solid contract.
 
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