Fresh off the signing of Klay Thompson, the Miami Heat did not rest to appreciate the moment. Instead, they followed it up with a final series of moves to solidify their roster for the upcoming season.
Their first deal of the day was for free agent big man Nick Richards, who was probably the best player still available on the market. He had a number of suitors this summer, but he’s now set to suit up for the Heat, where he’ll be competing for a title.
“Free agent center NickRichards has agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Heat,” reported ESPN’s Shams Charania. “After signing Klay Thompson, the Heat fill roster slot No. 14 with a reserve big man.”
Richards, 28, is signing for the veteran’s minimum, allowing the Heat to improve their depth without sacrificing financial flexibility. Richards will be in a supporting role off the bench, providing a spark in the frontcourt with career averages of 7.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game on 62.1% shooting from the field.
In a more modest move, the Heat also brought back former Slam Dunk champion Keshad Johnson on a two-way deal. He has shown steady growth over the past two seasons in Miami, and the Heat are eager to continue his development.
“The Miami Heat and Keshad Johnson have agreed to a two-way deal,” wrote Michael Scotto on X. “The former Slam Dunk Contest winner has spent the past two seasons in Miami.”
With averages of 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game last season (along with 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks), Johnson only plays a minor role for the Heat, but his best is yet to come as he faces another season of two-way action.
With these latest signings, we can expect the Heat to be set with this roster for the foreseeable future. Still, after finishing 10th in the standings last season (43-39), they are in a much better spot than they were previously. The arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo in July (along with Bobby Portis from the Bucks) changed everything, rewriting the team’s identity and championship timeline overnight. In the process, however, they lost much of their supporting cast, prompting an aggressive search to find viable replacements.
Tim Hardaway Jr. was the first to follow the Giannis trade, giving the Heat a crucial floor spacer and veteran scorer on the floor. Klay Thompson came next, adding a proven winner and legendary sharpshooter to the star-studded rotation. It remains to be seen if Nick Richards is the last notable addition this summer, but it’s not a bad move to end on.
His arrival fills a major hole in the frontcourt and gives the Heat some added flexibility as a 6’11” big man who does all the things you’d want in a backup center. Since he’s only on a one-year contract, Richards comes at no risk to Miami, and he chose them over other teams due to his burning desire to win.
On all fronts, the Miami Heat seem poised for a major breakthrough in the East this season, but there’s still much work to be done between now and opening night.
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