Suns Trade Nick Richards to Bulls and NHD to the Bucks for Cole Anthony, Amir Coffey

[Superbone]

How about this guy?

[Wally_West]

Coffee had a real chance to take the Dunn/Livers minutes. Competition is a good thing. Like Boucher but cool with letting Flemming get real minutes too.

[O_Gardino]

Suns need a PF/C desperately.

Desperately is just not accurate. We are 31-20 without said PF/C so I think we’re doing fine.

Are we at major risk of a Mark Williams injury? Definitely, but we’d get to sink or swim with Maluach and I’m actually ok with that. This season is already a success to me.

I'm at the point where I'm thinking about our chances once we're in the playoffs and I think it's pretty key we get some functional size. Rotations shrink and our guard depth won't be as big of a benefit.

My thoughts exactly. I think this team could make some noise in the postseason, but more size is needed.

OK, but who could we have gotten that actually changes our playoff chances?

[Mori Chu]

The Nick Richards era in Phoenix is over. How much did we give up to get him? It was Okogie if I recall correctly. Didn't we give up picks, too? That was costly for a one-year rental of Richards. I hope the FO learns from trades like that, that we can't just hand out picks like candy in every minor trade.

[MightyMoog]

The important thing was getting under the cap, it lets us go back over the tax next year or the year after to improve the roster.

Just enjoy the run this year. We’re still a bit away from doing moves to get us over the hump. We still have to build slowly up to the pinnacle.

[Split T]

It was a 2nd rounder or maybe 2 and I think they weren’t great. We were actually desperate for a big last year when we made the move.

[BKinSJC]

Okoge and a net loss of two second round picks (traded 3, got one back). I think the pick they got back is one of the ones they used to move up for Fleming in last year's draft. Picks they lost were '26 and two in '31.

I'm glad they didn't give up any picks to make this Richards/NHD thing work, and it seems to have accomplished the goal of dipping under the tax. If it helps prevent them from getting repeater penalties down the line, then it could have more than just pure money implications. It probably bites them in the ass pretty hard, though, if (knocking on wood) something happens to Williams this year.

[Split T]

Suns need a PF/C desperately.

Desperately is just not accurate. We are 31-20 without said PF/C so I think we’re doing fine.

Are we at major risk of a Mark Williams injury? Definitely, but we’d get to sink or swim with Maluach and I’m actually ok with that. This season is already a success to me.

I'm at the point where I'm thinking about our chances once we're in the playoffs and I think it's pretty key we get some functional size. Rotations shrink and our guard depth won't be as big of a benefit.

My thoughts exactly. I think this team could make some noise in the postseason, but more size is needed.

I guess we probably just have different definitions of desperate. I agree we could use more size, but I don’t think we’re in a position that exchanging say Royce for a similar player with added size is gonna make a huge difference for us. Adding a true starting level PF would’ve helped, but that was never a real option with the assets we have.

[O_Gardino]

I'm with Mori on this one. We gave up picks for Nick Richards like he was gonna save that team, and that was stupid. No shade to Nick, but that was mid-January and management should have known they were tearing it down over the summer. Maybe they thought they were taking a flyer on a potential future starter, but that would also be stupid.

[AmareIsGod]

Regarding our Power Forward desires (thanks Gemini):

Current analytics for the 2025-2026 NBA season suggest that the traditional "Power Forward"—a bruising post player whose primary job is to rebound and score inside—is effectively extinct. In its place, analytics emphasize versatility and spacing. Modern data shows that "specialist" power forwards who cannot shoot from the perimeter or switch onto smaller guards defensively are now a statistical net negative. They clog the paint (lowering the team’s effective field goal percentage at the rim) and are liabilities in pick-and-roll defense. As a result, the position has largely dissolved into two other categories: "big wings" (6’8” shooters who handle the ball) or "small-ball centers" (playmakers who anchor the defense).

The "importance" of the position now follows a strict "barbell" distribution in value. At the top end, the position is arguably the most important in the league, housing the "Unicorns"—players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero, or Kevin Durant—who combine the size of a center with the skills of a point guard. Analytics prize these players highly because they create mismatches that simple defensive schemes cannot solve. However, if a team does not possess one of these elite hybrids, the data suggests the position has very low "replacement value." In other words, if you don't have a superstar PF, you are statistically better off starting a third small forward (a generic "3-and-D" wing) rather than a middling traditional power forward.

Ultimately, the 2026 NBA landscape dictates that the Power Forward spot is no longer about "power"; it is about defensive optionality. Analytics teams now prioritize "switchability" over rebounding numbers for this role. A valuable 2026 PF is defined by their ability to guard positions 1 through 5. If a player is locked into guarding only other big men, they are viewed as a tactical vulnerability that opposing offenses will ruthlessly exploit in the playoffs. The verdict is clear: the role of the Power Forward is vital, but only if that player possesses the skill set of a guard in a giant's body.

[Superbone]

Suns got As and Bs for this trade:

Grades and reaction: Suns fare well in 3-team trade involving Cole Anthony
https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-s ... s/3610764/

[BKinSJC]

Regarding our Power Forward desires (thanks Gemini):
...

The "importance" of the position now follows a strict "barbell" distribution in value. At the top end, the position is arguably the most important in the league, housing the "Unicorns"—players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero, or Kevin Durant—who combine the size of a center with the skills of a point guard. Analytics prize these players highly because they create mismatches that simple defensive schemes cannot solve. However, if a team does not possess one of these elite hybrids, the data suggests the position has very low "replacement value." In other words, if you don't have a superstar PF, you are statistically better off starting a third small forward (a generic "3-and-D" wing) rather than a middling traditional power forward.
...

Does Gemini know how to sing "One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others"?

Decent analysis other than that, although it doesn't completely account for the problem of trying to deal with specific teams that can run viable jumbo lineups and beat you to death, especially in a playoff series.

[pickle]

I still want to look at the big picture, that this team’s ceiling is second round out in the west. Yes we stand a chance in any one series tho a couple of teams present very bad matchups for us, but I don’t see this scrappy group winning more than 2 series given how the post season tends to be. I know the joy of this current positive record is like opium, but I am not willing to sacrifice future flexibility for very minor immediate gains.

Don’t expect everyone to have the same philosophy obviously.

[Split T]

I'm with Mori on this one. We gave up picks for Nick Richards like he was gonna save that team, and that was stupid. No shade to Nick, but that was mid-January and management should have known they were tearing it down over the summer. Maybe they thought they were taking a flyer on a potential future starter, but that would also be stupid.

I don’t think late 2nd round picks indicates it was a team saving move. Late 2nds are basically useless.

I went and checked specifically. We traded a 2026 Nuggets 2nd(so mid to late 50s) which is nothing. We received the 52nd pick in 2025 which was used to move up for either Fleming or Brea, I don’t remember which. We then also sent two 2031 2nds(Ours and Denver’s)

Would I prefer them back? Sure, but handwringing over late 2nd’s is not something I’m interested in. Amir Coffey is also actually a decent player that might help us, I think he’s actually better than Nick Richards.

[TOO]

Coffee had a real chance to take the Dunn/Livers minutes. Competition is a good thing. Like Boucher but cool with letting Flemming get real minutes too.

Fleming hasn't been good, we gotta stop with the idea that who dudes who are raw or second rounders should be getting minutes on a team that is in the thick of the playoff chase.

[Split T]

I still want to look at the big picture, that this team’s ceiling is second round out in the west. Yes we stand a chance in any one series tho a couple of teams present very bad matchups for us, but I don’t see this scrappy group winning more than 2 series given how the post season tends to be. I know the joy of this current positive record is like opium, but I am not willing to sacrifice future flexibility for very minor immediate gains.

Don’t expect everyone to have the same philosophy obviously.

I agree with this. Was the biggest reason I didn’t want to make a move. We have limited assets, the team is fun, but not going to win a title. I’m gonna be living and dying with the playoff results when they actually happen, but I’ll ultimately just be happy to make it and put up a fight.

Let’s see how the young guys develop, not speed rush into something we aren’t ready for, and just enjoy a team that plays hard for once. I’m not opposed to moving youth for something that makes sense, but I’d prefer to know what we have before moving it. I don’t think we know what we have yet in Maluach, Fleming, etc.

[Split T]

Coffee had a real chance to take the Dunn/Livers minutes. Competition is a good thing. Like Boucher but cool with letting Flemming get real minutes too.

Fleming hasn't been good, we gotta stop with the idea that who dudes who are raw or second rounders should be getting minutes on a team that is in the thick of the playoff chase.

I think Fleming has been a mixed bag. Hasn’t shot well at all, but the defense is real. More potential than actual production of course. I think we’ve handled it well. Give him some 5 minute shifts at times and not put too much on him. I’m still quite high on him.

Maluach on the other hand has looked very very raw. He hasn’t shown anything to me yet.

[TOO]

Coffee had a real chance to take the Dunn/Livers minutes. Competition is a good thing. Like Boucher but cool with letting Flemming get real minutes too.

Fleming hasn't been good, we gotta stop with the idea that who dudes who are raw or second rounders should be getting minutes on a team that is in the thick of the playoff chase.

I think Fleming has been a mixed bag. Hasn’t shot well at all, but the defense is real. More potential than actual production of course. I think we’ve handled it well. Give him some 5 minute shifts at times and not put too much on him. I’m still quite high on him.

Maluach on the other hand has looked very very raw. He hasn’t shown anything to me yet.

Yeah, Maluach has been a total drag, if they could've gotten CMB like they wanted I think we'd be in a real good spot.

[Split T]

I wish we took Cedric Coward. I know he is a 3, but he looks awesome.

[The Bobster]

I think the plan has been all along that Fleming and Maluach will be projects this year. They've both played well in the G-League and I think there's hope that those minutes will help when they get to the point where the Suns feel comfortable playing them in the regular rotation.

I think most of us would agree that the only position where they're really thin is big forward - Fleming fits the physical profile and shows some promise, but he's certainly not ready right now. Personally I would assign the two of them to the G-League and let them get in as many games as they can, not just a smattering of home games.