The Indiana Pacers need another center, and the Phoenix Suns could gift them with one as they have reportedly made Nick Richards available in trade (h/t Michael Scotto of HoopsHype).
"To avoid the luxury tax, which is something the Suns are looking to do, league sources told HoopsHype that backup center Nick Richards has been made available on the trade market due to his expiring $5 million salary."
Nick Richards could be a solid addition for the Pacers
Let me just get this out there: I am well aware of the fact that Richards isn't much of a needle-mover. He's not an All-Star-caliber player. He's on an expiring contract. And he has played a total of four minutes since the turn of the calendar.
He's not a Myles Turner replacement, but he can still be an asset to this Pacers team.
For the rest of the season, it's going to continue to be about experimentation for Indiana as it looks to try out different players, lineups, rotations, etc., to figure out what works for next year and beyond. And as it stands, it seems like their center problems are one of those things the team just hasn't figured out yet.
Jay Huff has mostly been good this season, but it's unclear whether he can play a big role once the Pacers are ready to compete for a championship again. (He's also been moved to the bench for reasons that not even Sherlock Holmes can figure out, which is likely a sign that the Pacers aren't satisfied with their center situation just yet).
Additionally, Isaiah Jackson has mostly been a big disappointment and is being treated like a depth piece at best (he's averaging 2.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 9 minutes in January). And Micah Potter had a solid start to his Pacers tenure but hasn't done much since (he's averaging 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 37.7% from the field and 32.4% from deep in his last 11 games).
Would trading for Richards be the permanent solution for Indiana? No. But at this point, it can't hurt.
The Jamaican native is in the final year of his three-year, $15 million contract. It wouldn't cost much for the Pacers to acquire him, and they've reportedly had interest in him in the past.
Last season, Richards split time with the Suns and Charlotte Hornets. On the year, he averaged 9.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1 block while shooting 59.1% from the field in 57 games.
Richards is a good paint presence on both sides of the ball. He is a solid rim protector and is an efficient scorer in the paint. Additionally, he has the tools to be a great rebounder, ranking 17th in the NBA in total rebound% in 2023-24.
The Kentucky alum certainly has his flaws. He is an inconsistent defender overall who often looks lost, and he does not space the floor at all. Regardless, there is a lot to like about his game, and he plays with a lot of energy and has a high motor.
Trading for Richards likely wouldn't raise the Pacers' ceiling, but doing so would be a low-risk, high-reward move. And for this specific Pacers team, that is exactly what they should be looking for as they continue to navigate through their less-than-ideal center situation.