The Phoenix Suns may have to keep Jusuf Nurkić around this season due to his large contract according to a recent report.

The Phoenix Suns hadn’t won back-to-back games since last month when beating two of NBA’s worst teams in the Utah Jazz on Dec. 13 in Salt Lake City and the Portland Trail Blazers at home Dec. 15. That alone is an indication of the type of season they’re having.

The Suns have acquired Nick Richards ahead of the NBA trade deadline, leading to rumors about Jusuf Nurkic's future.

In the move, the Suns acquired Richards and a second-round pick from the Hornets for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks. This was a solid trade for Phoenix as they not only added a solid new center for cheap, but they also freed up cap space in the move.

If Nick Richards doesn't help the Suns right the ship this season, they soon may be facing existential questions about the core of their roster.

According to Bovada, the Washington Wizards have the best odds (+300) of landing Nurkić in a trade. They are followed by the Miami Heat (+400), Houston Rockets (+400) and Detroit Pistons (+400).

PHOENIX — Devin Booker stood at his locker late Sunday night. The Phoenix Suns had just beaten the Charlotte Hornets on their home court, hardly a reason for celebration. But the effort had given the struggling Suns their third win in a row and their fourth in five games since coach Mike Budenholzer altered the lineup.

According to veteran NBA reporter Chris Haynes, Phoenix is benching starters Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkić after losing seven of their past eight games, a stretch that has lowered their record to 15-18. Rookie wing Ryan Dunn and veteran big man Mason Plumlee will replace the pair in the starting lineup.

Beal was one of four players for the Suns to score 20 or more points in the victory as both Kevin Durant and Grayson Allen scored 23 points and Devin Booker ... Beal and Jusuf Nurkić to the ...

Of course, Mason Plumlee had become the team’s new starting center after Jusuf Nurkić had fallen ... After the trade Devin Booker gave his thoughts about the deal when asked by Arizona Sports ...

According to veteran NBA reporter Chris Haynes, Phoenix is benching starters Bradley Beal and Jusuf ... Durant and Devin Booker is nowhere close to materializing, and Beal and Nurkić were the ...

KMVP 98.7. The Suns will look to win their first game in the Nick Richards era on Saturday against the Pistons. The game will tip off at 2 p.m.