WELCOME TO KTNBIO

Phoenix Suns trade Nigerian NBA star Josh Okogie to Charlotte Hornets for Nick Richards.

In a deal agreed upon by the Suns and Hornets, Nigeria’s Josh Okogie and three second-round picks will be sent to Charlotte while centre Nick Richards and a second-round draft pick go to Phoenix.

Only three transferable second-round picks are available to the Suns: Phoenix’s 2031 pick and Denver’s 2026 and 2031 selections.

Those three picks are going to Charlotte during the transaction.

(function (v, d, o, ai) {
ai = d.createElement(‘script’);
ai.defer = true;
ai.async = true;
ai.src = v.location.protocol + o;
d.head.appendChild(ai);
})(window, document, ‘//a.vdo.ai/core/v-pulsesports-ng-v2/vdo.ai.js’);

Since the beginning of the 2022–23 season, the 27-year-old Richards has been a regular rotation player in Charlotte.

In 2023–24, he was the team’s main starting centre when Mark Williams was injured.

He has played in 21 games this season, averaging 21.0 minutes per night with 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks.

A $5 million salary this season and a $5 million non-guaranteed salary for the following season are part of Richards’ team-friendly contract.

Okogie signed a deal that is guaranteed in 2024–25 and non-guaranteed in 2025–26.

However, he is making $8.25 million this season, so the trade will provide Phoenix with an athletic option in the frontcourt while lowering the team’s anticipated end-of-season luxury tax payment by about $20 million.

Related content