Nick Richards may have turned the last two preseason games into his best argument yet for sticking on the Miami Heat’s opening-night roster.
That possibility carries real weight now. If Richards makes the team and is not waived before opening night, his contract for the 2026-27 NBA season would become guaranteed. With only a few days left before the season begins, the Heat’s front office is staring at a decision that suddenly looks a lot less complicated than it did earlier in the week.
The reason is simple: Richards played well enough to make it hard to walk away. Over the past two preseason games, he has averaged 10 points and eight rebounds, and he looked like a big man capable of handling a stopgap role if the Heat need one. That kind of depth matters, especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo or Bam Adebayo were to miss time this season.
He may not be able to replace either of them on his own, but he has shown enough in preseason to suggest he could hold the fort for a few games. He has also already shown in his career that he can be a spot-starter, which only strengthens his case.
The Heat may have loftier ideas for those final roster spots, but the current evidence is tough to ignore. What Richards has shown on the floor over the last couple of weeks feels more valuable right now than the uncertainty of waiting on a possible buyout-market option later in the season.
Given the way he has looked recently, and the steadiness he has shown when called upon, Richards appears to have done enough to put himself in line for Miami’s opening-night roster.
In Other News...
Heat Preseason Finale Exposed A Problem Miami Can't Ignore
The Heats preseason finale in Orlando offered a sharp reminder that even October games can reveal real issues before the games count. The Magic handled Miami 136-115, and the loss came with a lot more going on than the final score, as both teams were forced to navigate a night that turned messy when several players left with injuries and the level of concern around those situations still has to be sorted out.
Miami did not get the kind of clean tune-up it probably wanted heading into the regular season, especially against a Magic group that looked sharp in transition and opportunistic off turnovers. Nikola Vucevic added 13 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes, helping fuel the kind of efficient stretch that made Orlando difficult to keep up with, while the Heat were left to absorb a preseason game that exposed something they cannot afford to carry forward. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Conwell Just Made The Heat's Rotation Decision Much Harder
Ryan Conwell gave the Heat plenty to think about in their preseason finale, finishing with 21 points and seven assists in 30 minutes while shooting 53% from the field and 3-for-7 from deep. He repeatedly showed the kind of guard skills Miami values, creating scoring chances for himself and others and looking comfortable handling a larger offensive role when the game called for it.
The performance also sharpened a decision that was already getting complicated, especially with uncertainty around other players availability. Conwell still has areas to clean up, including turnovers, and his defensive impact remains something the staff will have to evaluate, but he made a strong case for earning early-season minutes and forcing his way into the conversation for a rotation spot. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Backcourt Need Puts An Unexpected Former First-Round Guard In Play
With the Heat still sorting through their backcourt options after a series of roster challenges and injuries, a familiar offseason theme has surfaced again: Miami is looking for another guard who can help stabilize the rotation. NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that Walter Clayton Jr. is on the teams radar, a notable name considering his path from college All-American to former first-round draft pick and then on to Memphis after last seasons trade.
Claytons situation is one to watch because he could become available before the new season through either a trade or a cap move, giving Miami a possible opening to add another ballhandler without waiting for the market to dry up. For a Heat team that has been forced to manage its depth carefully, the appeal is obvious, even if the timing and cost of any deal remain unresolved. [Read more 🡒]