The Philadelphia 76ers may have some logjam of their own in the backcourt, but no one of sound mind would consider it a debilitating factor on their part. The same, however, cannot be said for a particular team, which made one of the most ill-timed moves in recent history during the 2025 NBA Draft.
Phoenix did a lot of maneuvering after trading Kevin Durant to the Rockets in a blockbuster deal, but they certainly started off pretty poorly in that regard. Despite having Nick Richards aboard, the Suns still pulled off a trade for Mark Williams with the Hornets. To complicate things further, highly touted big man prospect Khaman Maluach fell into their laps with the 10th overall pick.
Now, their draft night trade looks pretty hasty, and all signs point to the Suns shopping Richards, whom they acquired before the trade deadline in February for a bunch of second-round picks and Josh Okogie. Phoenix will have to fully guarantee his contract first.
Where do the 76ers factor in all these? Well, Richards makes nearly the same amount of money as Andre Drummond, and Philly can entice the Suns with a swap by slightly sweetening the pot for them.
The 76ers should swap Andre Drummond for Nick Richards
Like Drummond, Richards is an elite defender who offers a strong vertical presence as a lob threat and board crasher. His repertoire is just as concentric, and he is a better shot blocker than he is a rim protector. His edge over the former All-Star, however, is his age. Richards, at 27 years old, has just reached his prime, whereas Drummond has fallen off a cliff.
No, Richards does not project as a messianic presence for the 76ers off the bench. However, he would be a better option than Drummond at this point, and his salary would not impair the team’s spending plans given that he makes the same amount as the latter.
Philadelphia will certainly have competition for Richards, but the Suns will not demand much. If the 76ers can part with a second-rounder to make Drummond’s expiring deal more palatable, the 76ers should have a strong fighting chance.
The Philadelphia 76ers are committed to staying far away from more aged commodities this offseason, and to prove that, swapping Andre Drummond for Nick Richards will be a good way to prove that Daryl Morey and his crew are serious about walking the talk.