Nick Richards acquisition plugs some important gaps for Suns

Richards has been enjoying a strong season in Charlotte. He's averaging 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. His impressive play off the Hornets bench had made him a hot commodity among contending-level teams heading into the trade deadline. 

The Suns desperately needed help on the glass. They currently rank 25th in the NBA in rebounds per game, averaging 42.2 per night. Richards' ability to control the boards as part of a second unit, or when running with the starters, should allow Phoenix to assert more control when attempting to dictate the tempo of games.

Richards' impact runs deeper than that, though. The Suns are dead last in offensive rim frequency, with just 23.3% of their total offense coming within four feet of the basket, per Cleaning The Glass. Adding a genuine interior scorer, who is a career 71.5% scorer around the bucket, should give Mike Budenholzer another dimension to the Suns' offensive approach. 

The Suns have struggled to get the best out of their current center rotation. Jusuf Nurkic was recently moved to the bench, and Mason Plumlee, while serviceable, has struggled to make a genuine impact as a two-way big man. As such, Richards could be walking into a significant role straight from the jump. A 20-24 minute per night spot in the rotation isn't too far from the realm of possibility. 

While the move to acquire Richards isn't Earth-shattering, it does fill a genuine need for Phoenix. He won't transform the Suns into a powerhouse, but he will shore up their rebounding, rim protection (ranked 13th in the NBA) and interior scoring. The trade is a smart deal for Phoenix, even if it slightly overpaid in terms of draft picks and player compensation.