Overview
- The Heat have held ongoing discussions with former first-round pick Precious Achiuwa, and he is open to returning, but no contract offer has been made.
- Adding even a veteran-minimum 15th player would push Miami over the tax, and waiving Terry Rozier could create about $1.72 million in room; buyout talks have not advanced.
- Miami is weighing timing options, including waiting until December when a prorated minimum would fit under the tax or signing now and later ducking back below with a Rozier move, which carries injury-guarantee risk.
- Frontcourt depth remains thin behind Bam Adebayo, with Kel'el Ware and two-way center Vladislav Goldin among the internal options; Achiuwa averaged 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 57 games for the Knicks last season.
- The team has also evaluated other free-agent bigs such as Kai Jones, Trey Lyles and former Heat center Thomas Bryant, and Rozier remains under a federal gambling investigation, a factor in roster planning.