Nick Richards DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards is listed as out for the team's Thursday night matchup with the Wizards in Washington. He was acquired in a trade from the Hornets on Wednesday night but has not joined the team yet, according to the official NBA Injury Report. Richards' next chance to suit up for Phoenix will be Saturday in Detroit. Until he's ready, Mason Plumlee will likely continue to start with Oso Ighodaro as his primary backup since Jusuf Nurkic (illness) was also listed out for Thursday Night's game.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Suns acquired center Nick Richards from the Hornets. In exchange, Charlotte will receive Josh Okogie. Richards has had some potent performances over the years and has averaged 11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in nine starts during the 2024-25 campaign. However, with Mark Williams healthy, the 27-year-old has had trouble getting on the floor, at least consistently enough to be a routine contributor for fantasy managers. With that in mind, Richards will presumably take over in the middle in Phoenix, especially with Jusuf Nurkic (illness) likely on his way out. His arrival should also mean Mason Plumlee, who had been starting, will head back to the bench, with Oso Ighodaro unlikely to see much work in the near future.

Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards (ankle) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Indiana Pacers. Richards sat out on Saturday due to a right ankle sprain, so it wouldn't be shocking to see him miss both games of the back-to-back set. The absence of Richards should mean that Taj Gibson gets the start, but Mark Williams will split up the minutes with him. Richards made his season debut last week and has been playing well in three games. He's worth rostering in most fantasy formats because he's a solid contributor when healthy. Neither Gibson or Williams are worth streaming if Richards is forced to sit out.

Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to an ankle injury. Richards rolled his ankle during Thursday's game against the Knicks but was able to finish the contest. The injury may have flared up since then, leaving his availability for Saturday in doubt. If Richards is unable to play, Mark Williams is expected to take on a larger role, with Moussa Diabate potentially seeing increased minutes as the backup center. Despite only appearing in eight games this season, Richards has been productive, averaging 11.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Fantasy managers will be hoping for his return to the court soon.

Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards (rib) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Hawks. The 26-year-old last played in the November 1 meeting with the Boston Celtics. However, he's been on the shelf since. With Grant Williams (knee) and Mark Williams (foot) on the shelf, the Hornets could certainly use him back on the floor, especially with even more depth issues caused by the injuries to LaMelo Ball (calf) and Miles Bridges (knee). If Richards returns on Saturday, he might not see his usual workload. As a result, Moussa Diabate could continue to have a place in fantasy lineups for at least a few more games, although mostly for category managers looking for rebounds.