While the NBA world is fixated on the Bradley Beal drama in Phoenix, the Chicago Bulls have an opportunity to fly under the radar and trade for Suns center Nick Richards.
The 27-year-old big man is reportedly available, per insider Marc Stein, and wouldn't cost much to acquire, as contending teams jockey for position to sign Beal if and when he's bought out.
The Bulls may still have a chance to trade long-time starter Nikola Vucevic, but even if the 14-year veteran wraps up his contract in Chicago this year, the team is short on options that fit the scheme Head Coach Billy Donovan wants to run.
Dealing for Richards wouldn't be a glamorous move that pushes the Bulls closer to an Eastern Conference playoff spot, but it's the kind of trade the franchise needs to make at this stage of its "rebuild."
Chicago Bulls should take advantage of Bradley Beal situation
Vucevic is a multi-time All-Star, remains a walking double-double, is coming off the most efficient shooting season of his NBA career and is as durable as it gets for a 34-year-old. He started 72 games last season, playing 31.2 minutes per contest, with averages of 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shot 53.0 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from three, both career highs.
But he no longer has a place with the Bulls, who played at the second-fastest pace in the league last year and racked up the most total possessions. Donovan leaned heavily into a transition-based, run-and-gun style that clashes horribly with Vucevic's slow-footedness and preference to play in the half court.
Richards would give Donovan a more preferable option alongside Zach Collins and Jalen Smith in Chicago's frontcourt. The Kentucky product is a legitimate 7-footer with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, and his most attractive attributes coming into the 2020 draft stemmed from his explosive athleticism. He got up and down the floor, moved well and dominated near the rim with his physicality. He developed into a decent shot blocker with the Wildcats and proved to be a solid rim-runner.
Arguably, the only thing standing between Richards and a clearly defined NBA role is a lack of opportunity. His best season came in 2023-24 with the Charlotte Hornets, which, unsurprisingly, came when he started a career-high 51 games and averaged a career-high 26.3 minutes. He scored 9.7 points per game that year, pulled down 8.0 rebounds (2.6 of which were offensive) and blocked 1.1 shots.
Per 36 minutes, Richards has career averages of 14.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 64.0 percent shooting. He's a surprisingly good free-throw shooter as well, knocking down 73.8 percent over his five NBA seasons on an average of 4.4 attempts.
Richards could very conceivably carve out a steady role with Chicago, given his athleticism, shot-blocking, rebounding and, most crucially, his ability to run the floor with Josh Giddey (presumably) and Co. The Suns acquired him at last year's trade deadline for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks. If Phoenix is looking to shed salary any way it can, perhaps a few second-rounders could bring the Jamaican big man to the Windy City.