The Bucks and Suns have reached an agreement on a trade that will send guard Cole Anthony and wing Amir Coffey to Phoenix in exchange for center Nick Richards and forward Nigel Hayes-Davis, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The news of the deal comes right on the heels of Charania’s report that the Bucks were informing Giannis Antetokounmpo suitors that the star forward will stay put and that they’re moving onto other trade opportunities.
This deal will probably have a minimal impact in terms of on-court performance but it does impact salary cap sheets for this season.
For the Suns, it’s a major financial boon. Phoenix drops under the luxury tax line by roughly $2.5MM and also creates a $5MM trade exception by shipping out Richards, cap expert Yossi Gozlan tweets. Richards has an expiring contract, as does Hayes-Davis, who is making just over $2MM with no future obligations.
Anthony is making just under $2.67MM this season, while Coffey has a $2.87MM salary. Both are also on expiring deals with matching cap hits of $2,296,274.
According to Phoenix radio host John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), the trade creates a pathway for the Suns to promote two-way player Jamaree Bouyea to their standard roster. Bouyea is averaging 7.0 points in 15.3 minutes per game through 25 appearances.
Phoenix was already carrying 14 players on standard contracts, one less than the maximum, but the trade will give the team more financial flexibility to promote Bouyea and remain below the tax. It remains to be seen whether the Suns will retain both Anthony and Coffey, but they could create another roster opening if they waive one of them.
Anthony has appeared in 35 games off the bench this season, averaging 6.7 points and 3.5 assists in 15.1 minutes per game. Coffey has seen action in 30 games, averaging 2.4 points in 8.8 minutes per contest. Anthony might be the more valuable piece, as he could fill a role as a backup point.
Richards started 34 of 36 games for the Suns last season after being acquired from Phoenix but his role has diminished this season. He’s appeared in 28 games, averaging 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.1 minutes. Hayes-Davis has seen even less court time, averaging 1.3 points in 7.2 minutes over 27 games.
While Hayes-Davis seems unlikely to play a major role in Milwaukee and is probably a candidate to be released, Richards could step into a rotation role in the team’s frontcourt.
Nigel coming home!
Very interesting career.
He is from Toledo, OH
Played four years at UW, but sure, technically not “home”.
Harry he played at Wisconsin in college
I like this for the Suns, hopefully Cole can be a solid starter for them.
He’d probably be a backup.
Yeah, I suppose Green will be back in the starting lineup. I was thinking they might flip him for more of a distributor, but I guess they like him alongside Booker.
So… how does this trade impact the Bucks? The article discussed the fit with the Suns and salary impact. But what about from Milwaukee’s side?
Thats the mystery(spot)!
Ha!
Maybe they have a deal for Turner and they wanted someone at center for the rest of the season along with Sims. Just spitballing because idk why else MIL does it with everyone being on expiring deal and no draft picks?
Yeah that’s kinda why I am asking. There wasn’t any analysis from the author for the Bucks perspective of the trade, except the short paragraph add after my first comment.
Because Shams’ only perspective on Milwaukee is that Giannis is leaving. He never cared to ask why Milwaukee would make this deal. Because that would not be click bait.
He’s a clown. That’s why!
I wonder if it’s because of potentially trading Turner or Portis as you mentioned, crb15. Or if it’s because of potentially shutting down Giannis for the season. Otherwise I’m also a bit confused.