After the Miami Heat signed Klay Thompson to address their priority of three-point shooting, the team soon after addressed their need for a frontcourt player, deciding on Nick Richards.
The 28-year-old center now wants to prove to Miami that he belongs on the team, and to show the rest of the league the consequences of passing up the opportunity to sign him.
“I think that there are a lot of teams that passed up on me that I felt like they should have given me more consideration. But it didn’t work that way, and I feel like it’s just time for me to show them that you guys were wrong and you should have picked me”, Richards said, according to The Miami Herald.
Nick Richards signed a non-guaranteed contract with Miami to fill the 14th spot on the roster, leaving one spot open, as two-way contracts do not count toward this total.
Nick Richards on why he chose the Miami Heat:
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) September 1, 2026
“I feel I’m in the right situation that was best for me. — I think the way that the Heat has been known for guys that play physical, play hard, and play their role, I feel like that’s for me. I just keep doing that every single day… https://t.co/SGpAFXZdAX pic.twitter.com/eu2GHYiwAv
Ready to prove his worth
The Heat needed depth at the center position, with Bam Adebayo and Bobby Portis Jr. – who arrived as part of a trade package along with Giannis Antetokounmpo – being the only two players who had played that role in the past.
His $3.1 million salary will become guaranteed if Nick Richards ends up making the roster for the first game of the NBA season against the Minnesota Timberwolves, scheduled for October 31.
A second-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, he posted his best individual performances during the 2023/24 season, averaging 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 69.1 percent from the field.
He started last season with the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds, but was traded to the Chicago Bulls in February.
After joining Chicago, he saw his role increase and averaged 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in 20 games, including four starts.
“I feel like I’m in the right situation that was best for me. We just got to take advantage of the opportunity that I have right now”, Nick Richards added.
Nick Richards may not have planned on signing a non-guaranteed contract, but he is now very eager to show the Miami Heat that he is worth keeping.
