Suns center brutally placed on trade block ahead of deadline

The Phoenix Suns are sure to be active at the trade deadline this season, although just how much business they end up completely depends on what they could get back in return for Grayson Allen. The 30-year-old sniper having a career year in The Valley.

Nick Richards now on trade market ahead of deadline.

One other player to monitor as becoming available out of Phoenix is Nick Richards, and this makes sense for everybody involved. The 27-year-old was the best big the Suns could afford when they were in the second apron last year and needed an upgrade over Jusuf Nurkic, but that has changed.

Another former Charlotte Hornet in Mark Williams looking like the most impactful player the Suns have on many nights, and never is this more felt than when he is being held out of back-to-backs. He has also silenced critics who said he wouldn't be able to stay on the court.

Then there is Khaman Maluach, who despite being assigned to the G League on a couple of occasions now will be given more chances to impress in future. It is just a luxury that the Suns can bring him along slowly, thanks to the play of Williams, Richards and even Oso Ighodaro.

Jake Fischer reveals Richards has been available since last summer.

It should come as no surprise then, that Jake Fischer of The Stein Line substack had a recent piece from his notebook that is always in the know about big men being made available at the trade deadline. Richards made that list, for all of the reasons mentioned above. That, and it is developing into a seller's market.

There is a lack of quality big men available right now, and at a cost that rival organizations can afford to take on, which makes Richards such an intriguing prospect. His $5 million salary for this season is nothing, while he was once deemed good enough to pair with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to try and win games.

We know now that he was never able to reach that level, but he would still make an excellent backup in certain situations. One the Suns should be in no rush to sell, despite having more center options than at any point since Deandre Ayton and Jock Landale were manning the paint.

We're one injury to Williams away from Richards no longer being on the table, but the time to perhaps get a second rounder for him or another player whose value has decreased would appear to be now.