Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards is drawing trade interest from several contenders, Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto reports.
This latest development came after the Suns added two centers during last week’s NBA Draft. They acquired Richards’ former Charlotte Hornets teammate Mark Williams and selected Duke standout Khaman Maluach using the No. 10 pick they got in the Kevin Durant trade.
“Richards has drawn trade interest from several teams, including the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.
The Suns acquired Williams for the No. 29 pick (Liam McNeeley) and a 2029 first-round pick, which will be the least-favorable of picks from the Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves (top-five protected), according to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
It was a package less than what the Lakers gave up (Dalton Knecht, unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap) in the rescinded Williams deal at the trade deadline.
Among the three centers, Richards could be the odd man out. He was Williams’ backup center in Charlotte.
Richards, 27, has a $5 million non-guaranteed salary for the 2025-26 season. But Scotto added that the Suns are expected to guarantee his salary, which will give the team the ability to trade him.
The 7-foot center who has a 7-foot-4 wingspan averaged nearly a double-double per game last season. He posted 9.3 points on 59.1% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 22 minutes per game while splitting time with the Hornets and the Suns last season. The former Kentucky Wildcat started in 43 of 57 games.
Suns Praised for the Khaman Maluach Pick
GettyESPN’s Draft experts are high on Phoenix Suns’ No. 10 selection Khaman Maluach of Duke.
Heading into last week’s draft, the Suns were without a starting-caliber center, which many expected they will address with the Durant trade.
But the Suns instead opt for a package of former No. 2 pick Jalen Green, 3-and-D wing Dillon Brooks the No. 10 pick, which they used on Maluach, who should see minutes as Williams’ backup.
“Maluach will bring high-level intensity, rim-protection timing, rebounding ability and switchable defense — qualities the team lacked last season — injecting much-needed youth and energy into a roster overloaded in the backcourt,” wrote ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
Givony’s co-draft expert at ESPN, Jeremy Woo, called the Maluach pick a “errific outcome for Phoenix.”
“And he might be the exact type of player they need to anchor whatever the team is going to look like moving forward,” Woo wrote.
The 7-foot-2 Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 71.2% shooting in Duke’s run to the Final Four this past season.
Chris Paul Returning to Phoenix?
Getty Kevin Durant has words with Chris Paul during a Phoenix Suns-San Antonio Spurs game last season.
NBA insider Chris Haynes reported about the potential return of Chris Paul to Phoenix after the Suns lost Tyus Jones to the Orlando Magic in free agency.
Jones agreed to join the Magic for one-year, $7 million deal, according to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
“He wants to play at least another year. Sources have relayed to me that the [Los Angeles] Clippers are an option and the Phoenix Suns,” Haynes reported on NBA TV during the start of Monday’s free agency. “Both of those teams he played with before. [Paul] led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals. He had a great run with the Clippers. He had a great pairing with Blake Griffin over there. Those are the two teams that, I’m hearing as of right now, have legitimate shot at signing Chris Paul.”
Paul, 40, averaged a career-low 8.8 points but still dished out 7.4 assists against only 1.6 turnovers last season for the San Antonio Spurs. He also normed 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 28 minutes while playing all 82 games. It marked the first time he played the entire regular season since the 2014-15 season.
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