While they have one open roster spot, the Miami Heat aren’t currently in a position to acquire another veteran minimum contract without exceeding the $187.895 million luxury tax threshold.
That’s not stopping them from exploring.
Before signing guard Dru Smith last month, the Heat reportedly worked out free agent big Kai Jones. The Heat severely lacks frontcourt depth, so it made sense that they’re doing their due diligence with an otherwise dry market.
Miami is known to circle back on either players they’ve previously had interest in, or former players of theirs. On queue, the Heat is reportedly kicking tires on bringing back another familiar face: Free agent big man Precious Achiuwa, according to the Sun-Sentinel’s Ira Winderman.
“As often has been the case, the Miami Heat are looking to their past as a potential answer for a current question,” Winderman wrote. “In this case, the Heat have been in ongoing discussions with Precious Achiuwa, the team’s 2020 first-round pick, about a possible spot in the team’s power rotation, which is particularly limited at center.”
The Heat drafted Achiuwa, who turns 26-years-old later this month, No. 20 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. He spent one season with Miami before getting traded for guard Kyle Lowry the following summer. Last year with the New York Knicks, Achiuwa averaged 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds on 53.0 percent true shooting.
New York did not extend him the qualifying offer last offseason, but he returned on a one-year deal. This summer, however, the Knicks elected to go in a different direction with free agent forward Guerschon Yabusele, who had a breakout 2024-25 campaign with the then-beleaguered Philadelphia 76ers.
Achiuwa had little run in his lone season with the Heat. He averaged 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds across 12.4 minutes. He played in 61 games (four starts), but was at the back-end of the rotation for most of the season.
Achiuwa’s done a decent job carving out a backup big role in his first five seasons, but many of his same issues (defensive consistency, shooting, rebounding) still exist. He’s one of the better backup bigs available — but that bar is lower than the earth’s crust.
Would you take a flyer on Achiuwa? Let us know in the comments!
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[BREAKING NEWS] Shams reports Bulls are re-signing Josh Giddey to a 4-year/$100M deal – NBA Today
Oh well.
4 years 100 thats about what tys worth.rather have giddey.id be giddey if the 2 were traded for each other.giddey makes teammates better ty doesnt..
What are you smoking? Got any more?
I do think the Giddey deal helps the Heat leverage Herro. After the All Star break, Giddey averaged 21.2, 10.7 rebounds, 9.3 apg on high efficient shooting. He is several inches taller than Herro and a few years younger. Herro is a gifted offensive player coming off an All Star season. But would I swap him for Giddey? Have to say yes on that. Bottom line is Herro should not be offered much more than 4 years, $120m.
Giddey is just completing his rookie contract. This would be his first regular contract. Herro will completing his first contract extension. Not the same situation. RFA’s Kuminga, Cam Thomas and Quentin Grimes are more comparable situations to Giddey’s.
Herro is more than likely getting something in the neighborhood of 3 years/$120M, whether from Miami or some other team. There a few teams that would probably like to get him. Off the top of my head, Milwaukee and Utah. What would be ideal is Miami could package Herro and other assets for a player who could make a difference.
Then the Heat should trade him or simply let his contract expire. Hate to get nothing for him, but at least it would free up the money.
Giddey is the overall more effective player in comparison to Ty. I think re-signing him was a good move for Chicago, and they are paying Josh appropriately. Ty should not be getting more. The Heat should trade Ty, packaged with another player, and bring back something in an area of need.
apparently u dont watch the games
Yup. I avoid watching them whenever possible.
The guy who has called you (I believe) the LeBron James of HHH. The guy who said that he is serious that you should be the GM. Until you disagree with him……
He’ll come around when he realizes he’ll have to manage the team without me.
This isn’t going to end well for Leonard or Clippers!
Kawhi Leonard reportedly made requests to Raptors in 2019 that ‘line up almost perfectly’ with the current Clippers controversy. As the NBA begins its investigation into whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented the league’s salary cap by setting up a lucrative “no-show” endorsement deal for franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard in 2021, a new report claims that Dennis Robertson, Leonard’s uncle and representative, sought similar impermissible benefits back in 2019.
balmer will buy his way out of this
But Kawhi won’t. He should have gone to Lakers instead. Magic would have found him companies willing to pay him for endorsements/commercials, just like he has for LeBron and Luka. Oh, I forgot. He specifically indicated he didn’t want to do anything at all for the “bonus” money. What a greedy idiot. I’m seeing a season long suspension, or more or possibly a lifetime ban. Stupid is as stupid does. Clippers should be having a fire sale soon.
Grey area.
But what about others?
If they really did that in the way its described, there are two possibilities. They are stupid or this is a common practice in the NBA.
Maybe they are stupid and this is a common practice in the NBA.
Why don’t we just survive with what we have till next year and find the best option then. If there will be injuries, there will be free agent available to fill a hole for 10 or so games.
I dont see Achiuwa as a good option.
The Miami Heat have reportedly discussed buying out the contract of Terry Rozier, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The 31-year-old is on the books for the upcoming season at $26.6 million, of which $24.9 million is guaranteed. Winderman notes that if the Heat waive Rozier before October 18, 2025, the team would save $1.7M and have the space needed under the luxury tax to add a replacement player at the veteran minimum (e.g., Precious Achiuwa).
If Miami does this before finding out if Rozier has his “mojo” back, it will be more stupid than trading for him to begin with. I can picture Rozier taking his $24.9M, being picked up by a competitor and getting his mojo back. At that point, the new team could either trade him for assets or keep him the rest of the season as a rotation player.
If Miami decides to wait until the March 1, 2026 buyout deadline, his contract balance for 21 games would be $6.8M. Meanwhile, if Rozier gets his “mojo” back at any point prior to the February 5, 2026 trade deadline, he could be valuable not only to Miami, but to any team looking for a rotation caliber combo guard.
Yes, I am finding that the decisions being made lately often do not seem to be the best or most logical move on the chessboard. Keeping under the apron this offseason has been a priority, as both HH and Dunc were traded with that in mind. So one can assume the Rozier move, if it is being done, is to clear space for Precious. But, there is the possibility that we are giving away a player who could get his mojo back. I also am perplexed about the impending Herro decision. I’m concerned that giving him his raise may limit us from other moves. At some point this season there will be a reckoning as to how this all translates to wins and losses. Going to be interesting as all we can do is hope for the best.
Yeah, this buying out Rozier idea would be a poor decision.
hell yeah. 6’10 big man that can rebound and stretch the floor. he’s the best player left from the lowry/dragic trade
Are you sure you have the right guy? He’s listed at 6’8”-6’9”, and is a career 30% 3 point shooter.
He’s the only guy left from the Lowry/Dragic trade, if you don’t count the remnants of what used to be Lowry.
hed be the first big off the bench.sign him.vlad might be to slow for nba.jovic is a sf
They would need to go over the salary cap if they don’t first find a way to reduce the team’s total salaries.
hes needed sun.who else behind kelel bam we have.vlad possibly but precious can defend rebound and athletic .hes same size as bam.at kentucky he was a good scorer why he was taken in 1st rnd.3pt game not his game in college was a 16 10 guy but bad 3pt shooter.sub precous for terry were a better team.terrys got that legal sht still around him.i swear it looked like he was missing shots last year on purpose his shots were so off it was hard to believe.before that was borderline all star for many years
“Achiuwa’s done a decent job carving out a backup big role in his first five seasons, but many of his same issues (defensive consistency, shooting, rebounding) still exist.”
If it’s acquiring Precious or start the season as is, I’d rather have him, unless getting him requires the Heat to weaken themselves elsewhere to get under the cap. The good news is the Heat are still looking to acquire a big. The bad news is now there are only about twenty days left before the Heat have to make a decision on Ty’s contract. I was hoping they would trade him to acquire another big. It’s hard to tell what the Heat are going to do there.
There’s a reason no team has signed him. OK as a very last resort on veteran’s minimum, if Heat can do it and stay under the cap.
I’m looking at the Clips roster since they’re in a bit of quandry. Thanks to Kawhi and the owner lol. Batum or Lopez? Is it possible?
Lopez signed a 2 year, $17,937,500 contract with the LA Clippers, including $8,750,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $8,968,750. Heat can trade Fontecchio (he makes $8.3M) plus a G Leaguer for Lopez. Perfect fit in Miami.
It looks like Heat will start the season with Ware, Bam, Jovic (and possibly Goldin and Johnson) sharing frontcourt duties.
He’s horrible! Haunting reminder not to have drafted Maxey.