New Heat Center Nick Richards After Signing: Many Teams Missed Out on Me

New Heat Center Nick Richards After Signing: Many Teams Missed Out on Me

After signing with the Heat, new center Nick Richards appears ready to send a warning to other NBA teams.

On August 23, the Miami Heat signed star Klay Thompson to address the team's three-point shooting issues. Soon afterward, the team strengthened another frontcourt position. The Heat signed center Nick Richards, and the new addition appears to be sending a warning to other NBA teams: do not overlook giving him an opportunity.

Richards signed a non-guaranteed standard contract with the Miami Heat, filling the team's 14th roster spot and leaving one spot available (not including three two-way contracts). The Heat needed to add depth at center because Bam Adebayo and Bobby Portis were the only two players on the team who primarily played the center position, and Richards' arrival filled that gap.

If Richards makes the Miami Heat's opening-night roster for their October 21 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, his $3.1 million salary will become guaranteed. The 28-year-old big man hopes to prove to the Heat that he deserves to be with the team, while also showing other teams in the league the consequences of passing on him.

"I feel like a lot of teams missed out on me. They should have taken a harder look at me," Richards told the Miami Herald on Tuesday. "But things didn't go the way I wanted them to, and I think now is the time to let them know they were wrong. They should have picked me."

Introduction to new Heat center Nick Richards

Richards was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft. His best career season came in 2023-24, when he averaged 9.7 points, 8 rebounds and shot 69.1 percent from the field. At the beginning of last season, he played for the Chicago Bulls before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in February. With the Suns, he averaged 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and shot 51.2 percent from the field.

"I feel like I am in the position that suits me best right now," Richards said. "We have to take advantage of the opportunity in front of us."

Although Richards' contract was not what he originally expected, he hopes to prove through his actions that he deserves to remain with the Heat.