The Charlotte Hornets positioned themselves early for a trade before the February 6th deadline. Charlotte traded veteran center Nick Richards and a 2025 Denver

The Hornets are sending Richards and a second-round pick to Phoenix for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, league sources confirm to The Observer on Wednesday. The Observer reported the mutual interest between the two teams while the Hornets were in Arizona on Sunday.

The Phoenix Suns acquired Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards and a 2025 NBA draft second-round pick on Wednesday in exchange for wing player Josh Okogie and three future second-round NBA draft selections. Richards is averaging 8.9 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game this season, in 21 minutes of action per game.

Nick Richards walking out the door opens up a world of possibilities for Moussa Diabate. The center on a two-way deal made waves with his early season output as he tormented opposing big men on the boards with relentless energy and inch perfect positioning on long rebounds.

A team like the Charlotte Hornets loom large over the next month as they await to help facilitate other trades for future draft capital.

The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly willing to discuss the availability of Nick Smith Jr., their 27th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, according to The Stein Line. Rival teams have disclosed that Charlotte is open to including Smith Jr.

The Charlotte Hornets traded Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns in a move that was widely panned as a win-win for both sides. Charlotte flipped Richards for an active, defensive-minded wing in Josh Okogie and a handful of future second round draft picks,

The Hornets acquired forward Josh Okogie in a trade with the Suns on Wednesday and they may not be done. At least, not if you listen to president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson, who sent center Nick Richards to Phoenix as part of the deal.