Addition of Nick Richards provides Heat with more rotation depth

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When the Miami Heat finally addressed their 14th roster spot with the signing of Nick Richards, they added an athletic and traditional backup big into their revamped depth chart.

At 28 years old, Richards is coming off a 2025-26 season with averages of 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game in just under 15 minutes of playing time. Those numbers per 36 minutes come out to 14.2 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks on nearly 52% shooting— which shows that he is capable of being a double-double threat when given the opportunity.

He split this past season playing with both the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls.

Richards was primed to get a chance to join Miami after there were several videos circulating of him working out with Heat players. Pat Riley shared earlier this summer that he was interested in getting some big man depth in Miami’s power rotation, and that’s exactly what Richards brings at a veteran minimum price tag.

The Heat played through all of the 2025-26 without a backup big on the roster.

Rewind to a year ago, the center position on the depth chart was almost nonexistent. The Heat went into the 2025-26 campaign relying on essentially just Bam Adebayo and sophomore Kel’el Ware.

That lack of positional depth forced Nikola Jovic to get some run at center in some games, which isn’t his natural position. Miami ultimately went the entire season without addressing the thinness of their frontcourt. They gave a shot at a Precious Achiuwa reunion before training camp, but they waived him before the start of the regular season. The Heat’s last true backup big man was Thomas Bryant two seasons ago.

However, the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis and now Richards this summer provides more reinforcements than they’ve had in just a couple months of an offseason compared to the entirety of the previous season.

At 6-foot-11, Richards has shown in spurts that he is capable of dominating the glass and finishing at the rim throughout his career. And his addition to this Heat roster now highlights size, versatility and two-way abilities with this new frontcourt depth.

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