Heat Evaluating Nick Richards

While the Heat have mulled the possibility of adding Richards to their roster, there’s no deal in place at this time, according to Jackson, who says the team hasn’t made an offer to this point. If Miami were to put a contract offer on the table for Richards, it would be worth the veteran’s minimum, Jackson adds (via Twitter).

However, Jackson makes it clear that these workouts offer no guarantees for Richards, noting that it’s not uncommon for free agents to scrimmage alongside Heat players in August and September, providing extra bodies for those workouts while getting the opportunity to audition for the club. As Jackson observes, Kai Jones was among the free agents to work out with Miami last August, and nothing materialized for him — he ended up signing with Anadolu Efes in Turkey about a month later.

Richards appeared in 48 games last season for Phoenix and Chicago, averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per contest.

The Heat currently have 12 players on standard contracts, with Mavericks wing Klay Thompson atop their wish list for the 13th slot. A trade with Dallas still seems unlikely, but Miami’s front office remains hopeful that Thompson will negotiate a buyout with the Mavs and become available via free agency.

Based on their hard-cap limitations, the Heat may carry an open roster spot into the regular season, Jackson writes. But even if they land Thompson and intend to leave a roster spot open, they’d still need to add a 14th man.

Team president Pat Riley suggested last month that his team could use “another real play-maker,” a three-point “marksman,” and a big man who can stretch the floor or protect the rim. Thompson would qualify as the “marksman,” and the reference to a “real play-maker” came amid Miami’s pursuit of LeBron James, so it’s unclear whether that would still be a top priority or if it was a nod specifically to James.

In other words, the Heat could end up focusing on big men with that 14th roster spot, and Richards is among the most notable free agent options still on the board. While he’s not much of a shooter, the six-year NBA veteran has displayed some rim-protecting ability over the course of 305 career regular season appearances. Miami is waiting to see what other centers might shake free in the near future, with this year’s stretch provision deadline around the corner, Jackson writes.

According to Jackson, DeMar DeRozan and Gabe Vincent are among the other non-center free agents on the Heat’s radar.