Hornets Center Named Knicks Option

The New York Knicks could make a trade with the Charlotte Hornets.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 25, 2024

Apr 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards (4) reacts to the call during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images / Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are at the forefront of trade rumors once again after it was announced that starting center Mitchell Robinson would miss the beginning of the season after continuing to recover from offseason foot surgery.

With Robinson out and Isaiah Hartenstein signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, there isn't an obvious answer as to who will eventually become the starting center for the Knicks to start the season.

The Athletic insider James Edwards III created a trade idea that would send backup point guard Miles McBride and veteran forward Keita Bates-Diop to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for center Nick Richards.

"Richards, who league sources tell The Athletic is someone the Knicks have had on their radar this offseason, is a big, physical specimen with a good motor. He rebounds OK, too, and can be disruptive at the rim. McBride, though, is the best player in this deal, so I’d be hesitant to do this particular trade if I were running the Knicks’ front office, even if it addresses a need," Edwards writes.

Richards, 26, has four years of experience with the Hornets after he was the No. 42 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Kentucky. Richards was seldom used for the Hornets in his first two seasons, but he broke out in his third season, averaging 18.7 minutes per game and scoring 8.2 points per game.

Last season, with starting center Mark Williams hurt early in the year, Richards made 51 starts for the Hornets, averaging 9.7 points per contest.

Williams is back and healthy for the upcoming season, so Richards won't have the same role in Charlotte. However, he could be called upon as a starter for the Knicks with Robinson out, so New York should make a call to Charlotte to inquire about Richards' availability.

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Published Sep 25, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.