on wednesday Phoenix suns The Charlotte Hornets have acquired Jamaican-born big man Nick Richards. The move gives some breathing room when it comes to the tax bill this season Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic's struggles with much-needed frontcourt depth.
Durant and the Suns are half a game out of 10th place in the Western Conference Golden State Warriorsexpectations, Richards will give the team one lift per lift by the midpoint of the season.
Richards is averaging 8.9 points this season, along with 7.5 rebounds and 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Durant is excited to see what he can bring to the Sun.
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Az Central's Duane Rankin says the addition of Richards means a superstar and what his rough interior position means for the team as they move forward.
“He's a strong presence in the paint, a big body that can go through the air there and cause some problems for a Wildcat guard,” Durant said Thursday.
“Get your hands on the basketball on the offensive glass and then there's something above the rim. It's something we all have to get better at as a group. Hopefully that drives us in that area.”
Trade Days for Kevin Durant, Nick Richards-Hornets track Josh Okogie
Along with the Suns' second-rounder Nick Richards of the Hornets, the team parted ways with Josh Okogie and three second-round picks.
Although Okogie only played 14.0 minutes per game this season, his hard work and his work ethic made him a player respected not only by fans, but by Kevin Durant as well.
After Wednesday's trade, Durant will appear on the team in Okogie's speech, who spoke with Duane Rankin and wished him well in Charlotte.
“How Josh approaches the game and his love for his teammates,” Durant said. “I wish him the best. I'm sure he's still a great teammate. Team Nick.”
The big question following the Suns' trade for Richards is whether the move will just be a phoenix, if not corrected before the trade deadline. While the acquisition of Richards is familiar to the team's front office, the consensus is that the Suns need at least one piece.
Despite Durant's three-headed monster, A brawler And with the Western Conference as competitive as ever, it may take a lot more than the frontcourt depth to make Phoenix a legitimate postseason threat.
Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez