The Hornets and forward/center Nick Richards have agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract extension, agents Javon Phillips and Jared Mucha told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The move comes ahead of a summer in which Richards was set to become a restricted free agent.
Richards, 25, is 7-foot-0 and was selected with the No. 47 overall pick out of Kentucky in the 2020 NBA Draft. He’s having a career year in his third pro season, averaging 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 62 percent shooting in 58 games.
It’s been a lost season for the Hornets, who have battled multiple key injuries under coach Steve Clifford. But Richards’ rise has been among the bright spots.
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