The Milwaukee Bucks have traded guard Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for center Nick Richards and forward Nigel Hayes-Davis, NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Thursday, February 5. The deal comes as Milwaukee continues to explore small salary moves while keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade options open ahead of the deadline.
Anthony, 25, appeared in 35 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 6.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 rebounds over 15.1 minutes per game. Coffey, 28, contributed 2.4 points in limited action over 30 games.
The Suns, now bolstered in the backcourt, sit at 31-20, holding the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Anthony will provide additional ball-handling support alongside Devin Booker, 29, who leads the team with 25.4 points per game, and Dillon Brooks, 30, averaging 20.9 points. Coffey is expected to add depth on the wing in Phoenix’s rotation.
Richards, 28, has appeared in 28 games this season, averaging 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds over 9.1 minutes per game. Hayes-Davis, 31, has averaged 1.3 points in 7.2 minutes per contest. Their addition gives Milwaukee added size and veteran presence in the frontcourt as the Bucks attempt to improve from their 19-29 record and climb in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Bucks currently rank 12th in the East, 17.5 games behind first-place Detroit Pistons. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 31, continues to lead the team with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists per game, but Milwaukee has struggled to find consistent production outside of their star forward.
