CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE) — The Charlotte Hornets are trading center Nick Richards to a team its become familiar with lately.
League sources confirmed with Charlotte Sports Live an ESPN report that Richards is headed to the Phoenix Suns along with a second-round pick. In exchange, the Hornets get Josh Okogie and three second-round picks.
The Suns have been the Hornets last two opponents – both Phoenix wins — since two games in Los Angeles were postponed due to the wildfires.
Despite being the backup center in Charlotte, Richards was the starter for much of the last year since Mark Williams missed significant time with injuries. The 2020 second-round pick out of Kentucky is averaging 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks this season. Last year, he posted career-highs of 9.7 points and 8 rebounds. He’s shooting 56 percent from the field in his career.
Okogie is a 26-year-old guard averaging 6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.8 steals, while shooting a career-best .381 from 3-point range.