Suns, Raptors Reportedly Discussing Nick Richards Trade: What It Could Mean for Both Sides
Welcome to trade season - where NBA front offices start dialing, fans fire up the trade machine, and every rumor feels like it could reshape the season. For the Phoenix Suns, the chatter is starting to center around backup big man Nick Richards, and it looks like there’s some real movement behind the scenes.
According to multiple league sources, the Suns and Raptors have engaged in exploratory discussions involving Richards. The reported framework?
Phoenix would send Richards to Toronto in exchange for guard Ochai Agbaji and a second-round pick. It’s the kind of deal that checks a lot of boxes for both teams - on the court and on the cap sheet.
Why the Raptors Are Interested in Richards
Let’s start with Toronto. At 16-11, the Raptors have quietly climbed into the third seed in the East, even after a recent skid. They didn’t come into the season with championship buzz, but they’ve outperformed expectations and now look more like buyers than sellers heading into the February 5 trade deadline.
One glaring hole on their roster? The center position.
Jakob Poeltl is a solid veteran, but the depth behind him - including Sandro Mamukelashvili - isn’t exactly scaring anyone. Richards, while not a game-changer, offers size, mobility, and rim protection.
He’s a traditional big who could give Toronto a more reliable presence in the paint, especially in second-unit minutes.
There’s also a financial angle here. Toronto is hovering just above the luxury tax line and appears motivated to duck below it. That’s where Agbaji comes in.
Agbaji: A Change of Scenery Candidate
Ochai Agbaji, a 6’5” guard in his fourth year out of Kansas, hasn’t quite found his footing in Toronto’s rotation. He’s averaging just 15 minutes a night across 19 games, with modest production: 3.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. The shooting numbers haven’t helped his case - 39.1% from the field and just 13% from three.
But here’s the thing: Agbaji isn’t far removed from a season where he averaged over 10 points per game and shot 40% from deep. That version of him is still in there somewhere.
Sometimes all a young player needs is a new environment and a clearer role. Phoenix might be the place to offer that.
Financially, Agbaji is set to become a restricted free agent next summer, and his $6.4 million salary makes him a movable piece for a Raptors team looking to trim salary. Swapping him for Richards - who’s on a $5 million deal - helps Toronto get closer to that tax line while addressing a roster need.
What This Means for Phoenix
From the Suns’ perspective, the move makes sense on multiple levels. Their center rotation is already crowded.
Mark Williams has been a standout, Oso Ighodaro continues to develop, and rookie Khaman Maluach is getting valuable G League reps. That leaves Richards as the odd man out.
While Richards brings size and athletic tools, the fit just hasn’t been there. He’s struggled with lateral quickness and hasn’t fully clicked with the team’s defensive identity. Too often, he looks a step behind or visibly frustrated - not ideal for a team trying to build cohesion and grit.
Trading Richards won’t bring back a haul, but if Phoenix can land a young guard with upside and a second-round pick? That’s a win. Second-rounders may not grab headlines, but they’re valuable currency in today’s NBA - whether it’s to sweeten a future deal or to take a flyer on a developmental player.
The Bigger Picture
This potential deal is still in the early stages, and with the deadline over a month away, there’s plenty of time for things to change. But the framework makes sense. Phoenix would be buying low on a young player, adding draft capital, and clearing up a positional logjam - all while maintaining financial flexibility.
For Toronto, it’s about shoring up a weakness and staying under the tax line - a classic “two birds, one trade” scenario.
As the trade season heats up, this is exactly the kind of under-the-radar move that could pay dividends down the road. Keep an eye on it.