With it being under two months until the trade deadline, discussions on a wide variety of players will start to ensue across the league. For the Suns, though, it is relatively quiet to start, as
only one name has really been mentioned in trade discussions so far: center Nick Richards.
Richards, who was brought in at last year’s trade deadline from the Charlotte Hornets, has had a weird role here in Phoenix in just under a year so far. He went from being the best big in this rotation last year, looking like someone who could be a quality starter, but better suited in a backup role. With the Suns trading for Mark Williams and still developing sophomore big man Oso Ighodaro, he has now fallen out of the rotation already.
This leaves the 14-12 Suns in a tough spot going into the deadline. Do they hold onto Richards, as he can be some depth if they run into injuries, or do they move off him for another need? He only makes $5 million, so he does not make much. The Suns, though, do not want to lose him in free agency for nothing. With him becoming a free agent this summer and with a limited role now, it seems unlikely he would return.
Well, that is how the rumor mill has started for Richards, dating back to the offseason when his name was already brought up in trade rumors. Now his name still seems to be at the forefront of the Suns’ discussions, as it was recently brought up that the Suns talked to the Toronto Raptors about a deal involving Richards.
The Suns and Raptors have discussed a trade that would send Ochai Agbaji and a second-round pick to Phoenix in exchange for Nick Richards, per
@MikeAScotto
“Meanwhile, rival NBA executives have cited Toronto’s Ochai Agbaji as the likely trade candidate to help the Raptors duck…
pic.twitter.com/wvjpvIX3i5
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
December 18, 2025
We already had a great article talking about that trade here, so check it out!
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ds-ochai-agbaji-draft-picks-nba-deadline-2025
That being said, though, Richards will eventually be moved by this deadline. Unfortunately, he has not played great this year in his limited minutes, but the Suns do not have the money to pay him. They have the contracts of Collin Gillespie and Mark WIllimas to worry about, and with rising young bigs in Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, it just does not make sense to retain him. So let’s look at some trades I came up with, and let me know your thoughts down below!
Trade 1: Cam Whitmore
In this first trade, the Suns talk to the Wizards in DC and trade again, this time not for Bradley Beal but for Cam Whitmore and their 2026 second-round pick back. The Wizards would then take on Nick Richards and his expiring deal.
The Suns do this to take a flyer on Cam Whitmore. He has not lived up to the hype he had in college, and that could be due to his character, but there is still some offensive spark in Whitmore that can be brought out. If any team can get the best out of an unproven player over the last two years, it’s been the Suns, so that is something I can invest in. Not to mention, he is also a Villanova Wildcat like Collin Gillespie, bringing another Big East player to play with an alum could also spark something out of Whitmore.
The Wizards also add a second-round pick to get out of the Whitmore contract. They took a flyer on the wing this offseason, but things have not panned out with him in their rotation. He has fallen behind some of their other wings and could use a restart. This pick also helps the Suns recoup some draft capital, an area in which they are constrained.
For the Wizards, they take the expiring of Richards and get off a contract they no longer need. With their front court not as deep, only consisting of Alexander Sarr and Marvin Bagley, another big man could be helpful, even if they are bad. All depending on their other moves too, he could find himself some actual backup minutes, something he does not see in Phoenix.
Trade 2: Jordan Hawkins
Similar to the previous trade, the Suns are once again taking on another flyer from the Big East in Jordan Hawkins, along with a 2030 New Orleans Pelicans second-round pick. The Pelicans then take on the expiring deal of Nick Richards.
The Suns can take flyers on players who haven’t panned out, and Hawkins fits that mold perfectly. He is someone who had a fantastic shooting run at UConn but has yet to find that hot streak in the NBA. This season, as well, he has been pushed out of the Pelicans’ rotation, with guards like Jordan Poole and Jeremiah Fears taking his minutes. I am someone who will never count a player out after his first spot, and that is how I feel with Hawkins. By learning from great three-point shooters on this roster, he could find that shot back and become someone who could be a low-investment, high-reward player.
Since Hawkins has fallen out of the rotation and does not have as high a value as he has held in the past, the Pelicans would have to attach a pick. The Suns are taking on an extra year, just like they do in the Whitmore deal, and need some additional compensation to do so. The Pelicans, as we all know, made one of the craziest trades of the decade in this past draft, with a pick, so that anything can be possible. If they feel in 2030 with this new core, they will be good; that pick will mean nothing to them.
The reason the Pelicans do this deal is to get off Hawkins’s contract and not have to worry about his rookie-scale extension/free agency problem. They also get to invest more into their young core and develop the guards they do play. New Orleans also has some questions in their front court, so adding some additional help could be beneficial for this team. Guys like Kevon Looney have barely played, Zion Williamson is in trade discussions, and regardless of how dominant Derik Queen is, he cannot play center and power forward the whole game. Adding Richards could give them a quality backup who could see more playing time than he does here, once again.
Trade 3: Jevon Carter
In this deal, the Suns see a familiar face and bring him back to the Valley by trading with the Chicago Bulls. In this deal, the Suns take on Jevon Carter and a 2028 Bulls second-round pick. In return, they send them Nick Richards.
Jevon Carter gets a return to Phoenix in this deal and is just another body for this guard room. With Jalen Green and Devin Booker seeing injuries, many guys have stepped up, like Collin Gillespie and Jamaree Bouyea. That said, having that extra insurance isn’t bad. We also saw how well a reunion with another guard, Jordan Goodwin, has looked this year. If the Suns feel they can get that from Carter as some insurance in the guard room, I do not see why they do not take the shot. He is also an expiring next year, so if it does not work, he is off the books.
The reason the Bulls have to include a pick in this deal is multifactorial. One Carter has not been part of their rotation, and this would provide them with some help in an area of need. Not to mention that Carter makes more than Richards, potentially hindering the other moves this Suns team can make. Also, it is the Bulls. They do not get picks in trades, but I bet they would be willing to send them out if they can “win now”.
Richard once again adds needed depth to a team that is a bit weaker in the frontcourt. They have some solid bigs in Jalen Smith and Nikola Vucevic, but another would not hurt. Once again, Chicago wants to win and make these moves. If they can move off someone who does not play and add someone who could bring something to their bench unit, why not take the swing? For the Bulls, this risky move does not outweigh their past decisions, so it would not shock me if this were done.
Trade 4: Keon Ellis
Now this one is a bit more out of left field, and different from the past, but hear me out. In this deal, the Suns would trade Nick Richards and two second-round picks, the Suns’ 2029 and 2032, for Keon Ellis from the Sacramento Kings.
The Suns do this because Ellis has the potential to be a key piece of their future, and the Kings do not know how to handle his situation. The Kings want to win and will do anything to do so, letting Ellis, one of their best defenders, go without minutes. It is a puzzling situation that one fan has eyed since this offseason, when they let Ellis enter unrestricted free agency. So if the Suns make this trade, they have to be willing to pay Ellis, but I do not see that being an issue. Ellis could be the perfect fit next to Devin Booker in this starting lineup, serving as a secondary ball handler and a fantastic defender who complements his weaknesses.
The Suns in this trade are the ones giving up picks, and that is because they are investing in youth talent. They have embraced that motto this season, and it has worked, so I am confident Ellis would fit like a glove into this system. Since they have limited firsts, the Suns throw their two most valuable second picks. With the uncertainty of their future, a Kings team may feel this is the best deal available. I am well aware that Ellis may cost more, and I am willing to admit that, just with Phoenix’s limited draft capital, this felt right.
The Kings do this deal because their evaluation of Ellis is incorrect; otherwise, he would have already been paid and playing for this team. With them being at the bottom of the West and going on a fire sale anyway, why not trade someone who clearly has not been a part of the plans now or for the future? They take on Richards, who presumably would see an increased role depending on the trades they make. Even if not, he still would compete with Maxime Raynaud for these backup minutes if Domantas Sabonis were to stay put.
Trade 5: The Blockbuster
The final trade and the big kahuna of them all is finally in front of you. Now, before you yell at me through your screens, you can just hear me out first. In this deal, the Suns get Ja Morant, G.G. Jackson, and a 2029 Portland Trail Blazers second-round pick from the Memphis Grizzlies. In return, they send them Jalen Green and Nick Richards.
Morant has been solid in reintegrating himself with the Grizzlies after some early-season difficulties with the coach, but the time has come for Memphis. They are 13-14 and clearly have some bright young stars, but not enough to get over the hump in this stacked West. They ultimately look to get younger, and trading Morant for Green allows them to do so while still investing in an offensive downhill threat that could be valuable to them. The Grizzlies also have young point guards in Scottie Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome, who could not replace but help replicate the workload lost with the trading of Morant. Ricahards is basically a throw-in for this Grizzlies team, which has seen injuries to its front-court players, especially Zach Edey. Having the extra insurance could be valuable for that, or any other move the team decides to make, giving him a bigger role than he currently has.
The reason the Grizzlies have to throw in this pick is that G.G. Jackson is involved. The wing has fallen out of their rotation and still has that extra year on his deal. Once again, Phoenix is taking a flyer on someone who was a former two-way player who found success. If any team has been able to bring those guys out, it is here, so taking that swing is worth it in this deal while also getting a pick, too.
The Suns do this deal feeling uncertain about Jalen Green’s future with the team. They felt the uncertainty when they got him, fielding offers before realizing the value wasn’t there. Now, in his 5 quarters of play, he has impressed and looked like he could be a part of this future. That being said, the Suns could also see that potential in adding Ja Morant. Having a very similar downhill attacking guard, but one who is a solid playmaker and allows Booker to go back to his natural position of a shooting guard. With the Suns not having much draft capital either, they want to win now, and trading for Morant allows them to be slightly better positioned to do so.
Final Thoughts
Well, everyone, here are the five mock trades I came up with, discussing Nick Richards’s involvement. I would like to add that the last trade was not possible without including Morant and Green because of Memphis’s salary cap. With that being said, though, which of these was your favorite? Did you not like any? I would love to hear what you guys have to say in the comments.
D. Brooks 21.7 (prev 18.4)
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