Mark Williams and Nick Richards have been teammates for four straight seasons with two different teams.
First three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, then this season with the Phoenix Suns.
The 7-footers play the same position, but they’re friends.
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So, it was hard for Williams to see Richards sent to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal that included the Milwaukee Bucks before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
“It’s tough; it’s part of the business,” Williams said after a Feb. 5 loss to Golden State at Mortgage Matchup Center. “I’m excited for him in Chicago. It’s a great opportunity for him. It is what it is. It’s tough, but I’m excited for him. I hope he does the best.”
The Suns (31-21) dealt Nigel Hayes-Davis to the Bucks, who moved guards Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to Phoenix.
“They’re such great teammates,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said Feb. 6 about Hayes-Davis and Richards. “They were part of the good vibes that we have going. Incredible workers, even when they were out of the rotation, they were super helpful for our group. Playing in the ‘stay ready’ runs.”
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Ott will talk more about Coffey and Anthony when they join the team. The Suns made the official announcement of the trade on Feb. 6.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns head coach Jordan Ott yells out to his team as they play the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns head coach Jordan Ott yells out to his team as they play the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) shoots a three pointer against Warriors center Al Horford (20) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Warriors center Al Horford (20) blocks a shot from Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea (17) drives to the hoop against Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton (8) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Warriors guard Pat Spencer (61) celebrates a three pointer against the Suns during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns center Oso Ighodaro (11) dunks against the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Suns head coach Jordan Ott talks with guard Grayson Allen (8) during a game against the Warriors at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Warriors De’Anthony Melton (8) makes a layup past Suns center Oso Igohodaro (11) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) celebrates and looks over at the Warriors bench during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Warriors guard Pat Spencer (61) shoots a three pointer against Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) blocks a shot from Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles against Suns forward Isaiah Livers (18) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guards Jalen Green (L) and Devin Booker watch their team play against the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns center Mark Williams holds the net as he waits for the game to restart against the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) shoots against Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns head coach Jordan Ott high-fives guard Jordan Goodwin (23) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guards Royce O’Neale (00) and Grayson Allen (8) high-five after a scoring run against the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns center Mark Williams holds the net as he waits for the game to restart against the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) defends Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) dunks the ball against Warriors center Quinten Post (21) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) dunks the ball against Warriors center Quinten Post (21) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) dribbles up the court against Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) drives to the lane against Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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The Phoenix Suns’ starters line up before a game against the Golden State Warriors at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guard Royce O’Neale (00) takes to the court to play the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) takes to the court to play the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) shoots a three pointer against Warriors guard Pat Spencer (61) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns begin 4-game homestand vs. Golden State Warriors
Suns center Mark Williams (15) dunks against the Warriors during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Feb. 5, 2026.
Phoenix continues its four-game homestand on Feb. 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers (29-22).
“We’re hoping some of that happens (Friday),” said Ott when asked when Anthony and Coffey will join the team. “Obviously, we play (Feb 7). We have three games left (before the All-Star break). As soon as possible would be best. Tomorrow is game day. We hope to have a shootaround to see where they’re at.”
The Suns have been without Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) and Jalen Green (right hamstring injury management/left hip contusion).
Both are listed as questionable for the Feb. 6 game.
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Booker has missed seven straight games, while Green has been sidelined for Phoenix’s last three games after taking a hard fall on his back and hip Jan. 30 against Cleveland.
The Suns did individual work during practice on Feb. 6.
“They’re just continuing to go,” Ott said. “Book and Jalen were both in there. They were part of our practice, film and recovery stuff. They’re still in that same spot. Day-to-day. We’ll learn more as the day progresses and into (Saturday).”
Grayson Allen and two-way player Isaiah Livers went down with injuries in the Feb. 5 loss.
Allen suffered a right knee injury in the fourth quarter. He landed on Warriors guard Gary Payton II’s foot going after an offensive rebound and walked off the court to the locker room with 3:03 left.
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Livers suffered a left shoulder injury when he and Warriors forward Draymond Green collided in the first half when Green delivered a hard screen that Livers didn’t appear to see coming.
They are both ruled out for the 76ers game.
“They got some imaging done,” Ott said. “I’ll leave it at right knee, left shoulder. Just evaluating (Friday). We’ll get more news about it. Doesn’t seem extreme, but it was just such a weird play with Grayson, kind of stepped on someone’s foot. We hope for the best, and we’ll know more soon.”
Ott added that Allen and Livers didn’t participate in individual work on Feb. 7.
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Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns coach addresses trade, injuries heading into 76ers game