"Suns guard Jason Richardson is suspended without pay for the first two games of the regular season because he pleaded guilty this summer to driving under the influence in December, an arrest nine days after his trade to the Suns became official.

The league suspension will cost Richardson $242,424 of his $13,333,333 salary and force him to miss the Oct. 28 season opener at the Los Angeles Clippers and the home opener on Oct. 30 vs. Golden State. Leandro Barbosa likely would start at shooting guard in those games.

Richardson was suspended for a game without pay by the Suns on Feb. 18 after a second incident in which Richardson ultimately pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor speeding charges and a count of endangerment for a Feb. 15 case, when his son was in the car. The Suns tried to no avail to have the suspension reduced to one game because the club already had suspended him."