9:48 pm: The three-team trade is official, the Bulls announced (via Twitter).
1:58 pm: The Bucks and Suns have expanded the trade, adding the Bulls to the mix, Charania tweets. Richards will head to Chicago instead of Milwaukee with Ousmane Dieng going to Milwaukee.
Richards could see more playing time with the Bulls, considering they dealt Nikola Vucevic this week. Dieng wound up in Chicago earlier this week when the Thunder traded him to Charlotte, which then re-routed him to the Windy City in the Coby White deal.
Dieng appeared in 27 games off the bench for Oklahoma City. He’s making $6.67MM this season and will be a restricted free agent this summer.
11:08 am: 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 see rotation minutes 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”.
Cwizzy … Who cares?
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.
No way he starts – he’s mid at best
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.
@MysterySpot “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”
That’s the Bucks’ side
Yea that was after my post and still irrelevant even if they didn’t move Richards to CHI. MIL being 12th in the EC should be tanking for the best pick with GA out so much this year. They shouldn’t be bringing in someone for a “rotation role” that is 28 when they already have Portis, Turner, and Sims; especially if they’re adding salary and not getting some kind of draft pick.
Anyway, looks like they got Dieng who is still only 22 and a RFA they probably want to retain this summer, which makes at least some sense.
@crb15 completely agree with you
@SoCal Thanks for pointing that paragraph out. As I said, that was added after my comment.
@MysterySpot sounds like the paragraph I quoted didn’t even matter after all
@SoCal haha guess not
Coby would have been better. Anthony is a solid addition. Anything to move Booker to SG.
Richards is playing well. I wonder about Turner and Giannis fit.
I can see Giannis being moved at the draft.
Me too AL, I agree about Giannis
Dieng was on 4 teams in 2 days? Is that some sort of record?
getting traded 3x in 2 days gotta sting
I can’t wait to see who plays for the Bulls tonight against the Hawks. Yuki at C. Essengue in a sling playing 4. Collins in a walking boot hopping round. Guys will literally be introducing themselves like a pickup game in the Bronx. Are you telling me they couldn’t have spread this out to field a team? Like I said, Clown Show. G League guys showing up. Brutal. Donovan can’t coach when he knows the players.
Fr Mike. Just comical that they waited this long and didn’t get a single first round pick or promising forward/big. Just took a giant sht at the deadline and trying to ignore the smell . ESPN depth chart shows how stupid they are , the bust Dillingham doesn’t even show up due to AKs midget fetish . At this point just let Patrick run the offense and see how far we can drop.
Like how do u fail in negotiations so badly that Ayo doesn’t even get u Bellinger , let alone a protected first ??
Yeahh I wanted Beringer for the bulls too..and I’m not even sure why the wolves are so focused on keeping him. I mean on one hand, I get it, he’s a young big with plenty upside for development, but on the other hand..the wolves are in win now mode with guys like Ant man, Gobert and Randle. I just don’t see them having enough time to develop the kid atp, but I could be wrong. I just want better players for the bulls tbh😭😑
They must like Beringer. They can always move Rudy when Beringer is ready. Imo Ayo and Coby both should of gotten 1st rd picks, late ones. Dillingham can backup Giddey. Seems like getting younger around Buzelis and Essengue. And Bulls have a lottery pick coming lol. Don’t F that up.
Richards was playing well for Suns. You can build a team D with him. At 28 yrs old. He is starting to peak. Bulls could luck out with him. He’s a capable starting center. Bulls should be playing for next yr now. A top ten pick is a very nice pick. Could even luck out with UH center Chris Cenac. He should be there at bottom of lottery. Excellent C for today’s game. With Richard they are an excellent combo imo.
Thanks Al for your insight and the encouragement for the bulls. Some other bulls fans keep spouting the same negative nonsense. It’s refreshing to see someone actually encourage the bulls to do better. We shall see how management handles these assets going forward though. 😮💨🙏
🙏. Love the game bro. I can be critical. Not a hater