It could be easy to miss Chicago Bulls free agent center Nick Richards, as he's often injured and not always on the floor. But when he is, he puts up solid numbers and plays good enough defense that he could be a good option for the Denver Nuggets as a backup center to test this year in the non-Nikola Jokic minutes role. A role that feels like a revolving door the past few years as a Nuggets fan. The Nuggets need to take a strong look at the six-year veteran, especially at a buy-low opportunity.
Richards would be a bit of a gamble because of injuries, to say the least, but so is someone like Aaron Gordon next year, or even Peyton Watson, who both missed multiple stretches of time due to injuries, including the most important part in the playoffs.
Injuries happen. They're unfortunately a part of the game, and hopefully next year the Nuggets' luck in that department goes the other way.
Richards may fit the Nuggets' non-Jokic minutes role well
But the injury issue aside, Richards would be a good fit for the Nuggets in the paint when Jokic comes off the floor, and it just may suit the workload Richards needs. Richards has typically averaged closer to the low-to-mid twenty-minute range during his stints with the Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, and Phoenix Suns. But in the non-Jokic minutes role, Richards would only need to play 12-14 minutes per game, perhaps lightening the load for the 6-foot-11 big man.
Richards averaged 9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks over 22.4 minutes in 20 games for the Bulls after he was acquired from the Suns at the trade deadline in February.
More importantly, he's not a bad defender, and he'd be a better option than going small with Spencer Jones all the time or bringing back Jonas Valanciunas, who was often one of the sources of the disappearing lead when Jokic left the court.
Richards could be cheap
Richards is coming off a year in which he made $5 million in the final year of a two-year deal. He hasn't exactly played his way into a large contract, nor has his health put him in that category. He could be a perfect buy-low with upside target for the Nuggets. They need to find someone to fit the non-Jokic role.
Valanciunas was just the latest to try to fill the void in minutes. DeAndre Jordan tried, wasn't great. Jeff Green did well enough to help the Nuggets win a championship at least. It would be nice for the Nuggets to find someone who can work out for the long term.
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