The Miami Heat have already landed one major piece in Klay Thompson, and the roster still has two clear openings to address. If the goal is to round out the rotation without getting cute, the next moves point in two obvious directions: Ochai Agbaji and Nick Richards.
Richards makes sense as the big to target. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reported that Miami plans to use its 14th roster spot on either a power forward or center, and he described Richards as a "player of considerable interest," while also noting the Heat will continue to weigh their options before making a final decision. That interest lines up with the need, but Miami may want to move quickly before another team gets there first.
The appeal with Richards is straightforward. He gives you real production on the interior, and his recent numbers back that up.
Over the last two seasons, his averages translate to 14.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, 4.1 offensive boards, and 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes. He’s also shown up in the impact metrics, ranking in the 84th percentile in rim protection and the 96th percentile in post defense in 2025-26, per Basketball Index.
There are limits to his game, especially when he has to defend in space. But that concern shrinks next to Bam Adebayo, and Richards would also fit alongside Bobby Portis Jr., who spaced the floor efficiently in 2025-26 while helping on the offensive glass and finishing well inside.
Agbaji is the more interesting bet because of the upside. He stumbled through a rough 2025-26 season, but his 2024-25 breakout showed why teams still value him. In that year, he posted 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.6 three-pointers made in 27.2 minutes per game, while shooting .498/.399/.708.
The defensive profile is what keeps Agbaji in the conversation. Basketball Index had him in the 94th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, the 99th percentile in off-ball chaser defense, and the 95th percentile in matchup difficulty as a defender. Even with his three-point shot falling off to 26.6 percent in 2025-26, there were still signs of life after he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, where he hit 34.9 percent from deep and remained in the 84th percentile in perimeter isolation defense.
That’s why the Heat shouldn’t overcomplicate this. Richards fills the center need with proven quality.
Agbaji gives them an affordable wing with 3-and-D upside. After the Thompson signing, those are the two additions that best stabilize the rotation.
In Other News...
Heat Title Hype Now Hinges On One Big Roster Question
The Heat have spent the offseason reshaping their roster with an unmistakable win-now edge, adding proven championship experience and keeping Andrew Wiggins in the fold on a new extension. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. are among the names now linked to Miami, a clear sign the organization is pushing its chips in ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season and trying to build a group with real playoff bite.
The biggest remaining question is how much farther the front office can go in turning that talent into a finished contender. Klay Thompson is reportedly working through a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks and is expected to land in Miami, which would add another veteran scorer and a very different kind of floor-spacing threat to a roster already undergoing major change. What happens next could determine whether this summer is remembered as a strong setup or the point when the Heat finally push the project over the top. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompsons Next Role Just Reshaped Miamis Free Agency Plans
Miamis offseason plan has started to tilt around a familiar kind of question for this front office: fit. With Klay Thompson expected to land in South Florida on a two-year deal after his buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, the Heat are looking at a lineup that adds more shooting and spacing, and that new shape appears to have influenced how theyve approached the rest of free agency.
DeMar DeRozan reportedly viewed that arrangement as part of the problem, since the Heats roster composition and Thompsons anticipated role at shooting guard made it hard to see where DeRozan would slot in cleanly. He ultimately chose Denver instead, leaving Miami with a clearer picture of what it wants, even if the ripple effects of that decision are still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Still Have One Important Roster Move Left
The Heat have been busy reshaping the roster, and the additions of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson have given Miami a far different look heading into the season. Even with those headline moves, there is still a practical question hanging over the group: how to shore up the bench after losing several players and keep the rotation from looking thin once the season gets rolling.
Miami still has two open roster spots, and one of them could be used before opening night to give the team a little more balance. Nick Richards would address size and interior depth, Bruce Brown Jr. would bring versatility and defensive help, and Ochai Agbaji offers another kind of wing option, leaving the Heat with a decision that could shape how sturdy the roster feels beyond the top names. [Read more 🡒]