Newly-acquired Suns center ruled out vs. Wizards

The Phoenix Suns may have made a trade for him late Wednesday evening before the team clashes against the Washington Wizards, but newly-acquired center Nick Richards’ debut for his new team will have to wait for another day.

On the NBA injury report, Richards is not with the team and will not play against the Wizards tonight. The 7-footer and a second-round pick were dealt by the Charlotte Hornets to the Suns in exchange for forward Josh Okogie and three second-round picks.

Being punished by opposing teams’ offensive rebounding over the past few games, Phoenix has added a fifth center to the roster and can now be creative with different lineup combinations. Richards, Oso Ighodaro, Jusuf Nurkić, Bol Bol and Mason Plumlee will all vy for minutes now unless another trade materializes. Nurkić has been heavily talked about in trade rumors after he was removed from the starting lineup and benched.

This season, Richards is averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 21 games (nine starts).

After being listed as doubtful on Wednesday, former Wizard Bradley Beal is officially out for another return to Washington D.C. as he has sustained a left ankle sprain. Beal went for a rebound before landing on his ankle and being visibly in pain when landing in the third quarter of the Suns’ 122-117 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. This will be the 11th game he will miss this year, all because of an injury.

Nurkić will be sidelined for his third straight game for Phoenix as he has an illness.

For Washington, Malcolm Brogdon (right foot plantar fascia contusion) Marvin Bagley III (right knee sprain) and Saddiq Bey (left ACL surgery) are all ruled out.

The Suns and Wizards will go to battle tonight at 5 p.m. MST inside Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.