We're headed into a Boston Celtics season with a lot more questions than answers. While we know the center position is unquestionably thin right now, I think the Phoenix Suns' Nick Richards could end up being a fantastic trade target for the front office ahead of the February deadline.
There's a few layers to why I came to this conclusion. The first of which being what the Celtics are currently working with when it comes to center options. Luka Garza and Neemias Queta are currently the only rostered centers that have at least one NBA season already under their belts.
With all due respect to those guys, that's not a particularly strong list of options. With either of those two operating as your starting center, you're going to have some glaring issues, either in the departments of defensive ability or offensive spacing.
I think the Celtics have every intention of still competing in a wide open Eastern Conference this season despite being down their best player. What that means is that they're going to have to upgrade their options at center. One of the best aspects of bringing in Richards would be that he's on a very affordable contract.
Richards would work excellently with this Celtics team
Nick will be on an expiring contract this year. He's headed into the final season of a three-year deal, and he'll be owed just $5 million this season. Boston's front office may be looking to cut costs in the coming months, and that's where Richards becomes that much more appealing.
If you look at the whole picture of Richards' five-year professional career, it's clear that he brings a certain value to the table. He may not be an All-Star, but he's going to offer size, production, and a proven track record of NBA-caliber minutes as an interior scorer and rebounder. During his time with the Charlotte Hornets, he grew and developed into a reliable nightly contributor who could operate as an emergency starting center and hold up surprisingly well.
Having a situation where Richards is playing on an expiring deal gives the Celtics that much more flexibility. If he's playing well and you believe in his ability to excel within your system, you can likely re-sign him without breaking the bank.
Overall, this should be close to a no-brainer target for Boston. The Celtics' center situation is far from ideal, and Nick is maybe the most ideal target out there as of right now.