Heat Sign Nick Richards To One-Year Contract

2:45 pm: The Heat and free agent center Nick Richards have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

While Charania doesn’t share additional details on the deal, it’s safe to assume it’s worth the veteran’s minimum. According to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link), Richards’ salary will remain non-guaranteed until the start of the regular season.

Richards has been frequently mentioned as a frontcourt target for the team since word broke last week that he was in Miami working out with Heat players. The 28-year-old has spent six seasons in the NBA since being drafted 42nd overall in 2020, appearing in 305 total regular season games for the Hornets, Suns, and Bulls during that time.

While Richards was the primary starting center in Charlotte in 2023/24 and Phoenix in 2025, he has been a backup for the majority of his career, including last season. The former Kentucky Wildcat made 48 total appearances (six starts) in 2025/26 for Phoenix and Chicago, averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per contest.

Even though Richards won’t be on a fully guaranteed contract, he should have the inside track on the 14th spot on the Heat’s standard 15-man regular season roster. Assuming he makes the team, the 6’11” veteran will provide depth in a frontcourt that features Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, and Nikola Jovic.

After signing Klay Thompson earlier this week, Miami had roughly $5MM in breathing room under its first-apron hard cap with 13 players on standard contracts. Richards will carry a cap hit of $2.45MM, leaving the club with about $2.57MM in wiggle room below the hard cap. That would be enough space for a 15th man if the Heat decide to open the regular season with a full roster.

As Winderman observes (via Twitter), once Richards officially signs, the Heat will also be able to start completing their reported deals with training camp invitees at any time. A team can’t sign a player to a contract containing an Exhibit 9 clause until it has at least 14 players on standard contracts.