After January 15th, the date when all players who signed last summer’s summer vacation, including those whose parent teams used the Bird Rights to renew their contracts, were lifted from trade restrictions, the Suns immediately completed a deal with the Hornets , sending out last summer’s high-paying renewal contract, It was obviously for Josh Okogie, who was used as a salary package, and three second-round picks (2026, 2031 Gold Nuggets second-round and 2031 Suns second-round respectively) in exchange for Hornets center Nick Richards. Richards) and a 2025 Nuggets second-round pick.
For the Suns, this trade has the opportunity to solve at least part of the problem of complete tragedy in the penalty area this season, and for the Hornets, it is not too difficult to find a replacement while Richards is highly inquiring in the market. If you take off your hands and cash out in advance, it can be regarded as a transaction for everyone to get what they need.
Has the sun zone been solved?
Since Deandre Ayton left the team in the summer of 2023, the Suns’ visible problem on the court in the past two years is that the athletic ability of all long-term players, whether starting or on the bench, is basically below the league average, except for the lack of assistance in defending the penalty area. In addition to your outside ability, even in the paint area, the opponent on the offensive end almost doesn’t take your pick-and-roll seriously. Anyway, they don’t worry about what you do after receiving the ball. You can just double-team the ball-handler, let alone as long as the opponent There was a movable rebounder flying around, and rebounds were pretty much on demand that day.
In recent games, he has averaged more than 15 offensive rebounds per game, regardless of facing Guerschon Yabusele, Mark Williams, Clint Capela, or Walker Kessler. As well as Richards himself, I’m not sure if they can be considered as the first-line centers in the league. Almost everyone has a double-10. The Hawks’ Onyeka Okongwu even comes off the bench to directly give you the stimulation of a double-20. It seems that the Suns Finally I couldn’t sit still anymore.
Of course, it is unrealistic to expect that getting Richards will solve all the problems on the Suns this season, but what we can at least look forward to is that after the pick-and-roll, there will finally be an extra pass to the long man, or even Option for direct aerial work.
There is an opportunity to relieve the dilemma of whether it is Devin Booker, Kevin Durant or Bradley Beal. Calling a long man to come out for a pick-and-roll is basically equivalent to asking the opponent to directly double-team you. Regarding the recent reduction in the ball time, the For Tyus Jones, who is at a slump, having one more person to eat the bread he feeds may also be a new possibility.
If there are no surprises, Richards will directly serve as the starting center after coming to the Suns. As a substitute, priority will be given to this season’s rookie Oso Ighodaro, and Mason Plumlee, who was the starting center a while ago. ) will return to the third center position.
