The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly a team to monitor as a potential facilitator in a possible trade that would send Jimmy Butler to the Phoenix Suns.

The Charlotte Hornets head to Footprint Center to face the Phoenix Suns in a non-conference matchup. The Hornets are 8-27, which puts them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference. The Suns are 16-19, which puts them in 12th place in the Western Conference.

The 27-year-old Richards, who is averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season, could be the Suns' new starting center.

The Charlotte Hornets (8-27) hit the road on Sunday to finally begin their road trip with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns (18-19). This matchup was originally slated to be the third game in a five-game road trip for the Hornets,

The Suns traded Josh Okogie and three future second-round picks Wednesday for Richards and a second-round selection. Wearing No. 2, Richards joined the Suns (20-20) Friday in Detroit and was ready to make his debut Saturday against the Pistons (21-20) at Little Caesars Arena.

The Phoenix Suns head to the Spectrum Center to face the Charlotte Hornets in a non-conference matchup. The Suns are 16-18, which puts them in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Hornets are 7-27, which puts them in 14th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Suns got a defensive stop with Booker grabbing a rebound that led to Royce O’Neale, back after missing time with an ankle sprain, hitting a corner 3 off a Beal assist that led to Charlotte calling a timeout with 41.5 seconds left.

The Suns are starting Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, rookie Ryan Dunn, Kevin Durant and Mason Plumlee for a fourth straight game. The Suns are 2-1 with this lineup since Suns coach Mike Budenholzer benched Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic and replaced them in the lineup with Dunn and Plumlee.

The Charlotte Hornets have traded center Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns for a package that includes guard Josh Okogie and draft picks, the team announced.

Devin Booker had game-highs 39 points and 10 assists with six rebounds and Kevin Durant put up 26 points but the Phoenix Suns lost to the Charlotte Hornets, 115-104, on Tuesday to conclude a three-game road trip.

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