The Utah Jazz have a problem that they can solve. However, over half of the NBA season has passed, and they've taken no steps to fix it, even for the short term.
While the Utah Jazz continue through this NBA season with a glaring hole at the center position, no viable efforts have been made to trade for a rotation big, as the team continues to roll with Jusuf Nurkic as the starter most nights, with Kevin Love and Kyle Filipowski getting most of the remaining minutes.
The frontcourt could use some more frontcourt depth, and the Jazz should be on the prowl for a buy-low candidate. One player who fits that bill is Phoenix Suns big man Nick Richards.
Richards averaged a solid 7.3 points and 5.9 boards in 18 minutes a night over his first four seasons in the NBA, occasionally getting 20+ minutes as a solid starting option. While he wouldn't be the starter in Utah, he would be a great reserve big, allowing Love and Filipowski to slot back in at their more natural four spot, and stick to what they do best - shoot threes.
Richards hasn't been playing as much for the Suns this season, which would make him easier to pry from the team.
What the Jazz could offer for Richards
The Jazz have second-round picks available to use in such a trade. And each of those years, Phoenix lacks a second-rounder.
For 2027, the Jazz have two picks in the second round. One will come from Boston or Orlando, the other from the LA Clippers. For 2028, the Jazz have a second-round pick that will convey from Detroit, Charlotte, the LA Clippers, Miami, or New York, and for 2031, the Jazz have a second-rounder that will convey from Boston or Cleveland.
Nick Richards has only played in 28 games for the Suns this season, as the team got off to a better start than expected. Only last year, he averaged 9.5 points and 8.6 boards for the Suns, starting 34 of the 36 games he played.
Richards would easily get 15-20 minutes a night in Utah, backing up Jusuf Nurkic and allowing the Jazz some roster flexibility. Richards has a low salary ($5 million) that expires at season's end.
Some might say it goes counter to the obvious tanking the Jazz have been doing, but Richards isn't likely to significantly impact the win/loss column. On nights that the Jazz want to rest Nurkic and Love, Richards would be a better option than Kyle Filipowski or Taylor Hendricks, who have looked lost at times in the paint this season.
Making this trade is a low-risk move that won't interfere with the team's cap sheet this summer, when the team needs to extend Walker Kessler, Keyonte George, and perhaps Brice Sensabaugh.
Grade: B