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

[AzStevenCal]

I don’t recall the last non-major acquisition having a better start for the Suns. Just about as good as it could have gone.

Yeah and it especially helps that he's filling a position we're so desperately undermanned at.

 

[JCSunsfan]

There's nothing in the statistics to indicate that Richards is any better than Nurkic. Fans who think the Suns have "upgraded" the starting center position are going to be disappointed. A rotation of Richards and Plumlee is woefully deficient.

Um. How about now? I don't think it's as deficient as Nurk and Plumlee.

 

[elindholm]

Um. How about now? I don't think it's as deficient as Nurk and Plumlee.

He had a great debut game. If you want to believe that the Suns got a starting center on a great contract for two second-round picks and a wing who can't shoot, go for it.

 

[Yuma]

He had a great debut game. If you want to believe that the Suns got a starting center on a great contract for two second-round picks and a wing who can't shoot, go for it.

To be fair, we did need a guy with his size and skill set more than we needed Okogie. So my thinking is, he probably isn't a world beater, but he raises the level of talent on the worst position on our squad, which makes us a little bit better than we we're before the trade. I expect we will find out his weaknesses soon enough.

Just moving his feet on defense, looks like he is better at that than Plumlee and Nurkic.

 

[SirStefan32]

It's also possible for two things to be true at once- overall, he may not be significantly better than Nurkic and Plumlee, and the things he does well are exactly what the Suns need, so he may make a huge difference while not being significantly better than those two when looking at them as overall players.

 

[Yuma]

It's also possible for two things to be true at once- overall, he may not be significantly better than Nurkic and Plumlee, and the things he does well are exactly what the Suns need, so he may make a huge difference while not being significantly better than those two when looking at them as overall players.

THIS!

 

[Mainstreet]

He had a great debut game. If you want to believe that the Suns got a starting center on a great contract for two second-round picks and a wing who can't shoot, go for it.

The Suns needed a center better than Nurkic, Plumlee and Oso.

They found one in Richards, but still require another player capable of playing center.

The word "starting" is relative.

 

[Yuma]

The Suns needed a center better than Nurkic, Plumlee and Oso.

They found one in Richards, but still require another player capable of playing center.

The word "starting" is relative.

I think Oso fits the developing player role. We have had too few of these recently. I have said Nurkic could be OK as the back up to Richards. we are stuck with him, so we might as well use him. Nurkic can rebound when motivated to do so. He just doesn't have the foot speed, or plays out of position, or both on defense.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Oso fits the developing player role. We have had too few of these recently. I have said Nurkic could be OK as the back up to Richards. we are stuck with him, so we might as well use him. Nurkic can rebound when motivated to do so. He just doesn't have the foot speed, or plays out of position, or both on defense.

Nurkic, Plumlee and Oso might be fine as a 3rd, 4th or 5th center, but the Suns need another center as good or better than Richards on the roster.

I'm not sure what James Jones was thinking.

Normally, Oso should be coming off a deep bench as a development player.

 

[Covert Rain]

Nurkic, Plumlee and Oso might be fine as a 3rd, 4th or 5th center, but the Suns need another center as good or better than Richards on the roster.

I'm not sure what James Jones was thinking.

Normally, Oso should be coming off a deep bench as a development player.

Unfortunately, you are not prying a better center than Richards off of a roster without giving up something else we need.

 

[Mainstreet]

Unfortunately, you are not prying a better center than Richards off of a roster without giving up something else we need.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. However, there are trades I would make and those I wouldn't.

Those decisions have to be made if the Suns hope to contend for as championship.

 

[Covert Rain]

There is no such thing as a free lunch. However, there are trades I would make and those I wouldn't.

Those decisions have to be made if the Suns hope to contend for as championship.

Which is my point. If you have to give up something you need, you are shoring up something while weakening something else you need to contend. That is just treading water. I don't think there is a magic bullet with what assets we have left.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He had a great debut game. If you want to believe that the Suns got a starting center on a great contract for two second-round picks and a wing who can't shoot, go for it.

I don’t think anyone believes he’s going to be a world beater. He just has to be an improvement over this seasons nurkic and plumlee, which is virtually guaranteed.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

To be fair, we did need a guy with his size and skill set more than we needed Okogie. So my thinking is, he probably isn't a world beater, but he raises the level of talent on the worst position on our squad, which makes us a little bit better than we we're before the trade. I expect we will find out his weaknesses soon enough.

Just moving his feet on defense, looks like he is better at that than Plumlee and Nurkic.

Correct. He isn’t wildly talented, but he’s much better than what we had for what we need. I’m not expecting him to be the savior, but sometimes small moves can have larger ripple effects if it allows other players to adapt slightly. Like maybe Dunn can more aggressively defensively with Richard’s behind him verses a Nurkic. So it’s not always about just the replacement being a lot better than nurkic. Sometimes it’s the domino impact.

Now this isn’t me prognosticating that this move turns the season around. It’s just me stating it might be more impactful than just Richards being better than nurkic.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

It's also possible for two things to be true at once- overall, he may not be significantly better than Nurkic and Plumlee, and the things he does well are exactly what the Suns need, so he may make a huge difference while not being significantly better than those two when looking at them as overall players.

Borg

 

[Mainstreet]

Unfortunately, you are not prying a better center than Richards off of a roster without giving up something else we need.

That's the way of life, isn't it, unless one has ample assets.

Luckily, he need not be better than Richards. Only better than Nurkic, Plumlee and Oso. That's the bar.