Overview
- Nick Richards agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Miami Heat on Thursday to be a traditional backup center behind Bam Adebayo.
- The signing fills Miami’s 14th standard roster spot and the team also added Keshad Johnson on a two-way deal while leaving one standard spot open for flexibility.
- Richards’ contract does not become fully guaranteed until the regular season opens, which gives the Heat an easy way to adjust the roster without a long-term commitment.
- At 6-foot-11, Richards averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds last season and showed improved per-minute production in a stretch with Chicago, making him a rebound-and-finishing interior option rather than a perimeter scorer.
- Miami was able to make these low-cost additions because Klay Thompson signed a modest two-year deal that kept the club below the NBA’s first-apron hard cap, preserving room to pursue midseason trades or buyout targets.