Nick Richards put together the kind of preseason finale that can turn a roster conversation into a real decision.
The Miami Heat wrapped up exhibition play Friday night, and now the clock is ticking. The regular season opens Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the team has until Monday evening to trim the roster to the standard 15-player limit. In a busy offseason that brought major change, the frontcourt has been one of the biggest areas of attention.
The headline move, of course, was bringing in Giannis Antetokounmpo in one of the biggest blockbuster deals of the decade so far. Miami also added veteran help around him, including Bobby Portis in that same deal, and the center picture has been part of the larger reshaping.
Richards arrived in August on a non-guaranteed contract, a setup that did not exactly scream certainty. He has long been viewed as a player who might take a leap that never quite materialized, but he has still provided steady rebounding off the bench throughout his career.
That experience may matter now.
The final preseason game gave Richards a strong case. In 18 minutes, he posted nine points, 11 rebounds and three assists, and even knocked down a three. It was the kind of stat line that speaks directly to what Miami needs from its depth: size, activity and some production without asking for too much.
For now, the competition behind the starters does not look overwhelming. Vladislav Goldin could push for a bigger role as the season unfolds, and Portis will take some frontcourt minutes as well. But if the Heat manage Antetokounmpo’s workload carefully, especially early in the year, Richards could see meaningful run - possibly in the 15-17 minute range a night.
Miami’s rebounding profile from last season offers the backdrop here. The Heat finished fourth in the NBA by averaging 46.3 rebounds per game and posted a 49.9 percent total rebounding percentage. Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Norman Powell each averaged at least three rebounds per game, but all three are gone now after Ware and Jaquez were sent to Milwaukee in the Antetokounmpo trade and Powell signed with the Chicago Bulls in free agency.
Those departures leave a gap on the glass. With Antetokounmpo, Portis and Richards now in the mix, Miami has a path to staying near the top of the league in rebounding once again.
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