THE Phoenix Suns have swung a trade to try saving their season.

Despite having two of the league’s biggest stars on the roster, the Suns are currently out of a playoff spot.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 12: Nick Richards #4 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on January 12, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Hornets 120-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Phoenix Suns have traded for center Nick Richards

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 14: Devin Booker #1 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on January 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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The Suns are currently 19-20 despite having Devin Booker and Kevin Durant
On Wednesday, the Suns connected with the Charlotte Hornets for a trade involving center Nick Richards.

The Hornets sent Richards and a second-round pick in return for Josh Okogie an three second-round picks.

The Suns are 19-20 this season, and were desperate for help at the center position.

The team currently ranks dead last in points from their starting center.

Richards is a good step in the right direction to improve that stat.

The seven-footer is averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 21 games this season.

However, when starting Richards averages 11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks.

NBA fans have split opinions about the trade and shared whether they think it was a good or bad move for the Suns on social media.

“Suns got fleeced,” one fan said.

“Great pickup for the Suns. Probably the most underrated player in the league,” another fan said.

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“Biggest Suns trade this season I fear,” a third fan said.

“Did the suns just trade every 2nd round pick they had,” a fourth fan said.

“Wow the Suns got a w here hornets couldn’t get a better deal?” a fifth fan said.

It will be interesting to see how the Suns handle the rest of the trade deadline after playing a few games with Richards.

If they don’t improve over the next few weeks, some of their big stars could end up being traded.

New rights deal

The NBA signed an 11-year deal with three networks for the league’s rights from the 2025-26 season.

And there will be no games on TNT for the first time since the network launched in 1988.

The Walt Disney Company will continue to show the league with 80 regular-season games across ESPN and ABC.

They will also show around 18 playoff games from the first and second round, a Conference Finals series for 10 of the 11 years, and remain the home of the NBA Finals.

NBC will return as an NBA broadcaster for the first time since 2002.

The network will show up to 100 games per season across it’s channels and Peacock streaming service.

It will also be the home of NBA All-Star and show approximately 28 playoff games from the first and second round.

NBC will show one Conference Finals Series for six of the 11 years, rotating with new broadcaster Amazon Prime.

Amazon will show 66 NBA regular-season games including one on Black Friday.

The streaming service is also the home of the latter stages of the NBA Cup and the entire Play-In Tournament.

Prime will also broadcast around one third of the playoff games in the first and second round.

Superstar Devin Booker is one of the players who has been floated around in trade talks.

Booker is averaging 25.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game this season.

The Houston Rockets are reportedly interested in Booker if he were to become available in a trade.

The Rockets are currently the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 27-12 record.

A player like Booker could elevate them to true contender status.