Don’t look now, but the Phoenix Suns are quietly sitting in seventh place in the Western Conference with a 14-12 record. It’s not quite the dominant run some expected when this roster came together, but it’s enough to keep them in the thick of the playoff picture - and with the Feb. 5 trade deadline looming, the front office has decisions to make.
One of the clearest? It might be time to move on from Nick Richards.
Richards, who came over from Charlotte last January, gave the Suns some solid minutes down the stretch last season. In 36 games - 34 of them starts - he averaged 9.5 points and 8.6 rebounds in just under 23 minutes per game.
He was a steady presence in the paint and a useful insurance policy at the five. But this year?
That role has diminished significantly.
Through 24 games this season, Richards is averaging just 3.4 points and 3.3 boards in 9.4 minutes per night. He’s clearly been pushed down the rotation, and with the emergence of Mark Williams - not to mention the presence of rookie Khaman Maluach, who’s played even less than Richards - it’s hard to see a path back to meaningful minutes for the 7-footer.
From a basketball standpoint, Richards is still a serviceable backup center. There are plenty of teams eyeing frontcourt depth ahead of the postseason grind, and a big man on an expiring $5 million deal could be an appealing option. But for Phoenix, this decision is about more than just on-court production - it’s also about the books.
If the Suns want to duck under the luxury tax line, moving Richards is the most straightforward way to do it. He’s the only other expiring deal on the roster outside of Williams, and there’s no scenario where Phoenix parts with Williams, who’s been too impactful to even entertain that idea. Richards, on the other hand, has been a non-factor for most of the season - and the Suns haven’t shown any signs they view him as part of their long-term plans.
Now, it’s worth noting that owner Mat Ishbia hasn’t exactly been shy about spending. He said before the season that Phoenix would be competitive and that fans would like what they see.
So far, he’s delivered on both fronts. And if the Suns keep trending upward, Ishbia might be willing to stay over the tax line - even at the risk of triggering the dreaded repeater penalty.
But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be smart about their flexibility. Trading Richards won’t just help with the tax - it opens up a roster spot and gives Phoenix the chance to make another move if the right opportunity arises.
They’re just three games behind the sixth-seeded Timberwolves and four games ahead of the 11th-place Trail Blazers, so the margin for error is thin. Every move matters.
At this stage, the Suns should be a lock for at least the play-in tournament - a scenario that didn’t feel like a given at the start of the year. And if they want to make a real run, they’ll need to tighten up the roster and maximize every asset they have.
Richards served his purpose when depth was a concern, but now? The writing’s on the wall.
The Suns have a chance to be strategic here. Moving on from Richards is a logical step - both financially and from a roster construction standpoint. It won’t make headlines, but it’s the kind of under-the-radar move that contenders make when they’re serious about the long haul.