NICK RICHARDS NEWS

Hornets sign center Nick Richards to contract extension

The Charlotte Hornets have signed center Nick Richards to a multiyear contract extension

MARCH 23, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Charlotte Hornets and Nick Richards agree on a 3 Year Extension With the Hornets now mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the focus now moves onto the offseason. Charlotte aren’t waiting around, a...

MARCH 23, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Inks three-year extension Richards signed a three-year, $15 million contract extension with the Hornets on Wednesday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

Impact The Hornets locked up Richards for three more years after posting career-highs in points, rebounds, blocks, free throw percentage and minutes as the team's number two center this season. Although he will likely remain the backup to Mark Williams for the upcoming seasons, Richards can be a strong fantasy option when given enough miniutes. He's shown this ability in his last five games where he has started in place of Williams (thumb), averaging 9.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks over 25.0 minutes.

MARCH 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cleans glass in elevated role Richards notched 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-4 FT), 17 rebounds, one assist and two blocks across 26 minutes during Monday's 115-109 win over Indiana.

Impact With Mark Williams (thumb) still out, Richards posted a career high in rebounds and had his third double-double in the last six games. The Pacers rank last in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage, and Richards took advantage grabbing six offensive boards. When Richards plays at least 20 minutes (25 games), he is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game. If Williams continues to miss time, Richards has a path to solid rebounding numbers.

MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Oubre, Hornets finish strong, beat Pacers 115-109

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 28 points, and the Charlotte Hornets erased a 21-point first-half deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 115-109 on Monday night to snap a six-game home losing s...

MARCH 21, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Charlotte takes on Indiana, aims to halt 4-game slide

Charlotte looks to end its four-game slide when the Charlotte Hornets play Indiana

MARCH 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Strong double-double Sunday Richards contributed 15 points (5-6 FG, 5-6 FT), 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 32 minutes during Sunday's 114-108 loss to Cleveland.

Impact Richards remained in the starting lineup Sunday, turning in his 10th double-double of the season, and second in his last three games. With Mark Williams (thumb) riding the pine, Richards has a nice opportunity in front of him, at least for the short term. While it doesn't sound as though Williams will miss significant time, the Hornets are likely to take it easy in terms of getting him back on the floor. Until that point, Richards is a must-roster player, even in standard leagues.

MARCH 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Garland, Cavaliers battle back from 16 down to beat Hornets

Darius Garland had 28 points, Donovan Mitchell added 23 and the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 114-108 on Sunday for thei...

MARCH 12, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Swats five shots in starting role Richards finished Saturday's 119-111 loss to the Jazz with nine points (4-7 FG, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, five blocks and one assist in 30 minutes.

Impact Stepping into the starting five for the first time all season while top center Mark Williams (thumb) was sidelined, Richards came through for any managers that streamed him for blocks, rebounds and field-goal percentage. The Hornets are listing Williams as doubtful for the second half of the back-to-back set Sunday against the Cavaliers, so at least for one more contest, Richards looks like he'll have elevated fantasy value while serving as a big-minute starter. Kai Jones is expected to remain in the rotation Sunday as Richards' primary backup in the likely event that Williams sits again.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nick Richards is having a career year. Is it enough to be part of the Hornets' future? Nick Richards had a career-high five blocks in the Charlotte Hornets’ 119-111 loss to the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

MARCH 12, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Starting at center Richards will enter the starting lineup Saturday against the Jazz, Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Impact Mark Williams (thumb) is sitting out Saturday and is considered day-to-day going forward, opening the starting spot to Richards, who is coming off a double-double Thursday against Detroit and will be a popular streamer in Williams' absence. However, it's worth mentioning that the Hornets have only two games on the schedule next week for those pondering adding Richards in season-long formats.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tallies double-double off bench Richards registered 13 points (6-7 FG, 1-1 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal across 29 minutes during Thursday's 113-103 win over Detroit.

Impact Richards hauled in a team-high rebound total while finishing as one of five Hornets players with 10 or more points in Thursday's victory. Richards has secured a double-double nine times this season. He could be a hot fantasy pickup if Mark Williams, who departed Thursday's win with a thumb injury, is forced to miss time.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Oubre, Rozier help Hornets deal Pistons 10th straight loss

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 27 points and Terry Rozier had 21 points and nine assists as the Charlotte Hornets beat Detroit 113-103 and extended the Pistons' losing streak to 10 games

MARCH 10, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Blocks three shots in loss Richards finished with seven points (3-4 FG, 1-1 FT), four rebounds and three blocks in 20 minutes during Friday's 117-106 loss to Orlando.

Impact Richards blocked three shots off the bench, continuing to serve as the primary backup behind Mark Williams. Although he has been able to secure himself a consistent 20-minute role, there isn't enough meat on the bone for him to be considered a pickup in standard formats. Barring a change to the rotation, he should be viewed as a rebounds and blocks streamer.

MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Approaches double-double off bench Richards finished Monday's 117-106 win over the Pistons with nine points (2-5 FG, 5-6 FT), nine rebounds and one block in 18 minutes.

Impact With starting center Mark Williams having seemingly stabilized into a 25-plus-minute role, Richards has been held to 20 minutes or fewer in each of his past five appearances while serving as Williams' top backup. Though the suppressed playing time caps his overall fantasy upside, Richards has produced well enough on a per-minute basis to merit attention in 14-team leagues or deeper, particularly for managers in need of rebounds and blocks. He's averaging 7.0 points, 7.0 boards and 1.6 blocks over his last five outings.

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats five shots in bench role Richards finished Wednesday's 120-110 win over the Spurs with six points (2-5 FG, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds and five blocks in 18 minutes.

Impact Mark Williams has claimed the starting center gig in the wake of last week's trade that sent Mason Plumlee to the Clippers, but Richards has seized hold of a rotation spot as Williams' backup and looks like a strong pickup in deeper leagues. Despite playing fewer than 20 minutes in three of the four contests since the Plumlee trade, Richards has averaged 7.0 points, 7.5 boards and 1.8 blocks while shooting 56.3 percent from the field.

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ball has triple-double, Hornets hand Spurs 14th loss in row

LaMelo Ball had 28 points, 10 assists and a season-high 12 rebounds and the Charlotte Hornets beat San Antonio 120-110 on Wednesday night to send the Spurs into the NBA All-Star br...

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Logs 17 minutes as primary backup Richards contributed seven points (3-4 FG, 1-2 FT) and eight rebounds in 17 minutes during Friday's 127-116 loss to Boston.

Impact Richards assumed the role of primary backup behind Mark Williams, flirting with a double-double in jury 17 minutes. With Mason Plumlee now residing in Los Angeles, both Williams and Richards are free to run riot as the two center options for the Hornets. He isn't worth adding in standard formats but should he be able to nudge 18 minutes on a nightly basis, managers in deeper leagues could give him a look.

FEBRUARY 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Plays ahead of Mark Williams Richards finished Tuesday's 128-97 loss to the Suns with four points (1-2 FG, 2-4 FT), three rebounds and three blocks in 17 minutes off the bench.

Impact After playing nothing more than garbage-time minutes over each of his last four games, Richards surprisingly re-entered head coach Steve Clifford's rotation as the primary backup to Mason Plumlee. Though he excelled as a shot blocker, Richards was a minus-18 during his time on the court and may not have done enough to permanently stave off promising rookie Mark Williams for the No. 2 center role. Perhaps Clifford just wanted to keep Richards involved after Williams had recently leapfrogged him in the rotation, but the Hornets' second unit is now worth monitoring over the next few games to see which of the two is the preferred backup option behind Plumlee.

JANUARY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Re-enters rotation in loss Richards amassed seven points (2-3 FG, 3-4 FT), one rebound and two blocks across 13 minutes during Thursday's 124-114 loss to the Raptors.

Impact Richards was back in the rotation Thursday, sliding in as the primary backup behind Mason Plumlee. Mark Williams had been the preferred option over the past couple of weeks, so this move came as a bit of a surprise. Both players can put up fantasy-relevant numbers when afforded meaningful minutes. However, until Plumlee is scaled back, both Richards and Williams present as nothing more than luxury stashes in 12-team formats.

JANUARY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Remains third-string center Richards (coach's decision) didn't play in Monday's 121-115 loss to the Hornets.

Impact After missing two games last week with a sprained right ankle, Richards has been active for each of the Hornets' last three contests, but he's logged just three total minutes during that stretch. Though Richards is healthy, head coach Steve Clifford acknowledged after Monday's game that rookie first-round pick Mark Williams has replaced Richards in the rotation as the top backup to starting center Mason Plumlee, per Nick Carboni of WCNC Charlotte. Clifford added that he eventually envisions Richards getting involved off the bench, but for the time being, the third-year big man doesn't look like he'll be featured in most games while Williams' development remains a greater priority.

JANUARY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Active but limited Richards (ankle) will play in a limited fashion Thursday against the Thunder.

Impact An earlier report noted that Richards would be the team's third option at center Thursday. It's unclear whether his limitations stem from his sprained ankle or if he has just been surpassed by Mark Williams on the depth chart, who has played well in the last two contests with Richards absent. Regardless, Richards should not be in any fantasy lineups Thursday and should be monitored moving forward.

DECEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Small role expected if available Head coach Steve Clifford relayed Thursday that Richards (ankle) will not be the primary backup center versus the Thunder even if he plays, Sam Perley of the Hornets' official site...

Impact Richards will apparently play third fiddle at center behind Mason Plumlee and Mark Williams, who has played reasonably well over the last pair of games. Richards will likely draw a more considerable role in future tilts, but he's not expected to see too many minutes Thursday.

DECEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Could play Thursday Richards (ankle) has been upgraded to questionable and could be available for Thursday's game against the Thunder, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Impact Richards was initially ruled out Thursday but may return after a two-game absence with a sprained right ankle. If the 25-year-old big man can suit up, Mark Williams will likely be left out of the Hornets' rotation.

DECEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Remains sidelined Thursday Richards (ankle) is out for Thursday's game versus the Thunder.

Impact Richards' absence streak will extend to three games with a right ankle sprain. His next chance to play is Saturday's matchup with the Nets.

DECEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE