The Atlanta Hawks got trade season off to an eye-opening start by sending star point guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. In the process, Atlanta fully committed to Jalen Johnson as the new face of the franchise and went all-in on a promising young core.
Though the Hawks have reason to stay the course and avoid completing any more deals, there's one trade that seems to be too obvious to not make: A move for Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards.
Richards, 28, is in the final year of his current contract and is owed just $5 million. Phoenix, meanwhile, has inevested heavily in the center position with the likes of Oso Ighodaro, Khaman Maluach, and Mark Williams all in the rotation.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Suns are thus looking to trade Richards in an attempt to avoid paying the luxury tax.
"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."
Later in the report, Scotto provided crucial information that the Hawks have $7 million in space to take on salary and are willing to do so in exchange for second-round draft picks.
"The Hawks also have nearly $7 million in room under the luxury tax and have signalled a willingness to help other teams duck the tax for second-round pick draft compensation, HoopsHype has learned."
To tie this potential trade together, Scotto went on to note that the Hawks are looking to create depth in the frontcourt if they can find the right fit.
"Meanwhile, Atlanta has been open to adding frontcourt depth if the right fit presents itself."
Considering Richards has the salary to help Phoenix get under the luxury tax and the talent to help Atlanta win games, this trade is too obviously a fit to ignore.
Nick Richards a perfect fit for the Hawks and the Suns want to move him
Richards is one of the most under-appreciated centers in the NBA. He's not only reliable for quality production, but a proven commodity in regard to rim protection, post defense, and overall help defense who can provide high-level minutes in a supporting role.
As the Hawks look for ways to back up Onyeka Okongwu and account for Kristaps Porzingis' availability issues, Richards would be an excellent addition.
Richards boasts career averages that translate to 14.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.0 offensive boards, 1.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes. He's also a career 73.5 percent free throw shooter who has buried 63.1 percent of his field goals across six seasons.
If nothing else, Richards can offer efficient offense around the rim, value in creating second chances, and deterrence in the paint given his shot-blocking capabilities.
Nick Richards would be the ideal backup to Onyeka Okongwu
Beyond the box score, Richards has overcome the inconsistent nature of his role to rank in the 93rd percentile in post defense, the 83rd percentile in help defense talent, and the 76th percentile in rim protection, per Basketball Index. Those numbers are far from a fluke.
In 2024-25, Richards ranked in the 92nd percentile in post defense, the 89th percentile in help defense talent, and the 98th percentile in rim protection—and that only scratches the surface.
Richards also finished in the 90th percentile in screener rim defense and the 59th percentile in screener mobile defense, which displays his quality against the pick and roll. For a Hawks team allowing the ninth-most points in the paint in the NBA, that all adds up to an ideal addition.
If the Hawks are willing to help the Suns shed Richards' salary, they could easily walk away with an expiring contract and a valuable player to re-sign over the summer.