The Miami Heat have discussed the possibility of adding free-agent center Nick Richards, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, but no offer or agreement was in place as of midday Wednesday.
Richards has been working out with Heat players at Kaseya Center while wearing Heat gear, though Jackson reported that free agents are permitted to use the team’s facility after signing a waiver.
The 6-foot-11 center split the 2025-26 season between the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls, averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes across 48 games. His production increased significantly after joining Chicago, where he averaged 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in 22.4 minutes over 20 appearances.
Richards has established himself primarily as a rebounder, interior finisher and rim protector during his six NBA seasons. He owns a career 62.1% field-goal percentage and averaged at least 8.0 rebounds per game in each of his two largest roles, posting 8.0 boards in 2023-24 and 8.2 in 2024-25.
Miami’s interest makes positional sense following an offseason that dramatically reshaped its frontcourt. The Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks in July, pairing him with Bam Adebayo while sending center Kel’el Ware to Milwaukee in the trade.
Adebayo averaged 20.1 points and 10.0 rebounds in 73 games last season, while Ware had supplied 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 77 appearances. With Ware no longer on the roster, adding another experienced center could provide depth behind Adebayo and give Miami another traditional interior option.
Richards’ 2025-26 numbers also show why Miami may be evaluating him. He averaged 7.6 rebounds per game with Chicago, including 2.1 offensive rebounds, while shooting 52.3% from the field. His 0.9 blocks per game with the Bulls would have ranked behind Ware among Miami’s regular frontcourt rotation players last season.
The Heat finished 43-39 and 10th in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26 before undergoing major roster turnover. Miami’s offseason additions have been built around maximizing the team’s new Antetokounmpo-Adebayo pairing, while the front office has continued to search for affordable depth under its financial restrictions.
