Nick Richards Stats, Advanced Metrics & Fantasy Rankings

Miami Heat center Nick Richards said the teams that passed on him in free agency were wrong, and he plans to prove it in Miami. "There's a lot of teams that passed up on me that I felt like they should have given me more consideration," Richards told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has spoken with Erik Spoelstra about bringing energy and physicality, but the path to minutes is tight behind Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, and Nikola Jovic. Richards started 51 games for Charlotte in 2023-24, averaging 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds, but he slipped to 14.6 minutes per game between Phoenix and Chicago last season. He needs a strong preseason to become more than emergency fantasy depth.

Free-agent center Nick Richards has agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Heat, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The move fills Miami's 14th standard roster spot after the team added Klay Thompson, giving the Heat another reserve big behind Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bobby Portis. Richards split last season between Phoenix and Chicago, averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes across 48 games while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. His workload is unlikely to grow much in Miami unless injuries open up backup-center minutes, leaving Richards off fantasy draft boards for now.

Free-agent center Nick Richards has emerged as a candidate for the Miami Heat's 14th roster spot, according to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson. Miami wants to use the spot on a rotation big who can play either center or power forward, and the 6-foot-11 veteran has been working out at Kaseya Center in Heat gear. Richards is weighing multiple offers, and it's unclear whether another team has topped Miami's guaranteed money. Any fantasy value would be thin regardless of where he signs. Richards averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes across 48 games and six starts for Phoenix and Chicago last season. In Miami, he would sit behind Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bobby Portis, leaving frontcourt injuries as his only real path to minutes.