Nick Richards trade: Details of all players involved in deal between Phoenix Suns & Charlotte Hornets

The Phoenix Suns have acquired Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards in a trade, Shams Charania confirmed on Wednesday. In the deal, the Suns traded away defensive forward Josh Okogie and three second-round picks and received one second-round pick from the Hornets.

Richards was among the trade targets for teams like the LA Lakers and New York Knicks. However, the Hornets' initial talks with the Suns were more fruitful. The 7-foot big man has played 21 games, averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds.

According to NBA insider John Gambadoro, the pick that was packaged around Richards is a 2025 selection. The Suns now have a bit of wiggle room as they've dumped Okogie's two-year, $16 million contract on Charlotte for the 27-year-old center's three-year, $15 million. Richards is set to earn $5 million this season and has a non-guaranteed $5 million deal next season.

The insider reported that there is an expectation Richards could take over the starting center position. Currently, Phoenix has assigned veteran big man Mason Plumlee as the starter over Jusuf Nurkic.

As for Nurkic's declining involvement in the Suns' rotation, there is belief that the Bosnian big could be traded this season. In his second season in The Valley, the big man has played 25 games, averaging 8.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Phoenix Suns have reduced their luxury tax penalty by $20 million. Gozlan suggested the Suns could address the logjam they have in the center position if they make further moves this season. He pointed out that the franchise has one second-round pick left to trade.

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Fans react to the Phoenix Suns trade

Other fanbases were waiting on their teams to make moves. However, the Phoenix Suns executed the trade before other teams had the momentum to trade for Richards.

Here is how fans from other teams reacted to the Suns' transaction with the Hornets.

"F**K i thought it was the lakers," one LA Lakers fan said.

"ROB WHAT ARE YOU DOING," another fan said.

"Shame the Knicks couldn’t have worked out a deal for him. Solid big," a New York Knicks fan commented.

Other fans were overjoyed with the deal that the Phoenix Suns front office made.

"Great pickup for the Suns. Probably the most underrated player in the league," a fan said.

"Wow Suns actually getting a real center 👀," another fan said.

"Good pickup for Phoenix, watching their current bigs makes me want to gauge my eyes out," one fan said.