Nick Richards Rumors

Then there’s Nick Richards. The Suns fully guaranteed the final year of his contract at $5 million, league sources confirmed to The Arizona Republic.

Arizona Republic

League sources say that the Suns, in addition to intensified discussions on a potential Beal buyout, have engaged various teams on trade scenarios featuring Nick Richards, Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale.

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Nick Richards has drawn trade interest from several teams, including the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told HoopsHype.

HoopsHype

Fred Katz: As expected, the Suns are holding onto Nick Richards, league sources tell The Athletic. Richards’ $5 million salary is expected to guarantee today for the 2025-26 season.

x.com

Keith Smith: NBA contracts that will become fully guaranteed today: 🏀Anthony Gill - WAS - $2.5M 🏀Jock Landale - HOU - $8M 🏀Nick Richards - PHX - $5M Players and teams can mutually agree to push the guarantee date back.

x.com

Suns center Nick Richards, who has a $5 million non-guaranteed salary for the 2025-26 season, is expected to have his salary guaranteed by the Suns, league sources told HoopsHype. Richards started 34 of 36 games for Phoenix last season and averaged 9.5 points on 60.5 percent shooting from the field with 8.6 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per game.

HoopsHype

One roster rumble that has emerged from the desert: Sources say that Phoenix, whether or not Durant is ultimately dealt before training camp, will be prioritizing the addition of a starting-level center this offseason. The Suns want a further upgrade on the move they made during the season to deal away Jusuf Nurkić and replace him with Nick Richards via Charlotte.

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Duane Rankin: Mike Budenholzer on Nick Richards missing a 3rd straight game to close season with right elbow inflammation: "There's just something going on with his elbow that was enough he couldn't play for the last few games. It's nothing serious or anything we're concerned about, but the New York game is when I think it happened. During that game, he was in quite a bit of pain."

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Gerald Bourguet: Suns list Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain), Devin Booker (right calf soreness), Bradley Beal (rest) and Nick Richards (right elbow inflammation) as out for tomorrow’s final regular season game against the Kings

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Duane Rankin: Suns injury report vs Thunder: OUT: Kevin Durant (ankle) and Nick Richards (elbow) #Suns

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Kellan Olson: Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) remains out for the Suns tomorrow against the Warriors. Nick Richards is listed as probable due to right elbow soreness.

Twitter

Danielle Lerner: Dillon Brooks ends up getting ejected after he and Kevin Durant got tangled up when Brooks was whistled for a foul on KD. Durant shoved Brooks, who then got into it with Nick Richards.

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Kellan Olson: Grayson Allen is no longer on the Suns injury report for tomorrow's game against the Bucks. Nick Richards (right calf tightness) and Mason Plumlee (left quad strain) are probable. Bradley Beal (left hamstring strain) remains out.

Twitter

Phoenix has won three consecutive games for the first time since late January while Cleveland (56-14) have lost four games in a row. Kevin Durant paced the Suns with 42 points. Phoenix remains in 10th in the West for the final play-in spot in the conference as Dallas (34-37) topped Detroit, 123-117, at home. Dallas has the same record as Phoenix, but the Suns hold the tiebreaker over the Mavs Phoenix (34-37) was without Nick Richards (right calf tightness), who was a late scratch, Bradley Beal (hamstring), Grayson Allen (foot), Mason Plumlee (quad) and Vasa Micic (illness).

Arizona Republic