The Phoenix Suns aren't likely to make any splashy moves at the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean there won't be any activity from the franchise.
Already we've looked at three players who the organization are most likely to move on from, with backup center Nick Richards topping that list.
Knicks would be perfect spot for Richards
The tricky part in deciding how much he is worth comes from the fact he will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. We have also seen during his time in Phoenix that he is not suited to being a starter on a team that has title aspirations.
The New York Knicks are all in to win right now, but they also wouldn't need Richards to provide much more than cover. That's a job he can do, and the Knicks also have the player to make a deal work.
Guershon Yabusele is a player we've spoken about who makes sense in Phoenix because he is a beefy forward that head coach Jordan Ott could work wonders with.
Nick Richards has been in rumors as a trade piece for the Suns
To get up to speed on his game, here are a few screenshots from his Player Profile's report cards for:
🟠Impact on team success
🔵 Efficiency
🟠Interior Defense
🔵 Positions defended pic.twitter.com/HYSE887XN9
— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) December 23, 2025
We've already seen him do the same with Isaiah Livers, although the Frenchman does have a player option on his contract for next season.
Given he's playing less than 10 minutes a night for the Knicks, you have to think they wouldn't mind letting him go for a rental in Richards, especially one who can help them on the boards.
The Knicks kill opponents on the board, grabbing the fourth most in the league at 46.2. It is a part of their identity, and they have one of the best in the business in Mitchell Robinson.
But he has had his injury issues and Richards looks like the ideal guy to take 10-15 minutes off him each night in order to save him for the playoffs.
This is a win-win for everybody involved, right down to the fact a pair of fringe players would also get more run by swapping conferences.
They would make their new teams better, and the value both the Suns and Knicks would get back in return appears to be equal too.
If anything New York might edge that because Yabusele has excelled on a massive stage for his national team, whereas Richards has never done anything like that.
At a time when we're being hit with ridiculous trade ideas like this one, a low-key move from a front office that hasn't put a foot wrong all season is the way to go here.