Nick Smith Jr. is in the midst of a playing time renaissance. The 27th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft has quickly developed from a seldom used bench guard into a key piece in the Charlotte Hornets’ rotation as a key cog in Charles Lee’s attempts to pull his team's offense out of the league’s basement.

The Charlotte Hornets traded backup center Nick Richards and a second-round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns for guard Josh Okogie and three second-round draft picks on Wednesday night.

The Charlotte Hornets have traded center Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns for a package that includes guard Josh Okogie and draft picks, the team announced.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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.