As curious a sight as it will be to see how certain teams will navigate the luxury tax, the first domino has been revealed: Nick Richards of the Phoenix Suns. Michael Scotto of ‘HoopsHype’ recently reported that the Suns are aiming to dodge the tax, and moving off Richards’ expiring $5 million contract will help their front office maximize the deadline plan.
Teams with big-man needs should have a joyful reaction, but so should James Harden of the LA Clippers. He needs interior domination from centers that have the IQ and awareness to know when to clear the paint for a Harden drive.
Ivica Zubac does it well, and their chemistry is known around the league. Brook Lopez, on the other hand, is popping out to the three-point line far more than anything on the offensive side of the ball, and that is precisely where the disrupted fit is at.
Thus, Lopez is half of the Clippers’ center rotation, and with Richards on the block, Lawrence Frank should call the Suns to make a trade that the former MVP would be a fan of.
Nick Richards and James Harden would have an excellent connection
Throughout his entire professional career, Nick Richards has only been a Charlotte Hornets or Phoenix Suns player; he would inevitably fit like a glove next to James Harden, as would every interior-efficient center.
It is difficult to claim Richards has fallen off this season and truly evaluate him, as he is averaging only 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting under 50% from the field. The former second-round pick is also on a streak of DNPs, given that he has not played since January 7th.
However, 2023-24, which was Richards’ best individual season, was too recent to forget, where he averaged 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds, shooting 69.1% from the floor in 67 games.
He met every criterion that Harden needs off the bench; efficient? Yes, impactful? Yes, and available? Yes. Richards is the entire package, and even when he arrived in Phoenix at the deadline last season, he was still averaging a near double-double.
Additionally, with him competing for a new contract, there is no risk. He could just be left to walk in free agency if his decline is irresolvable.
Therefore, within the next week, there should be no sense of the Clippers stopping their pursuit of Richards. His game would easily and quickly grow on the fanbase, and the cost to get him will likely be chump change.