The Philadelphia 76ers have one open roster spot as they head toward the 2026-2027 NBA season, but as of late August, they do not plan to fill it. Any move through free agency would require another corresponding move, and for now, the team is staying put for strict financial reasons.
That leaves center as the biggest concern on a roster that looks top-heavy. Joel Embiid still carries injury questions, while Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti have yet to fully establish themselves. Nick Richards is one of the more intriguing center names available, but the 28-year-old is drawing heavy interest from the Miami Heat, and that could complicate any idea of the Sixers waiting things out.
According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the Heat are expected to take a similar approach to Philadelphia by leaving their 15th roster spot open. With two openings available, Richards has been labeled "very much in play."
The Heat buzz around Richards goes beyond simple rumor. He has also been working out at the team’s facility while wearing Heat gear. Multiple reports have stressed that no deal is currently in place - or even publicly on the table - but the trail still points toward Richards potentially joining Miami’s frontcourt behind the stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Philadelphia does have one reason to monitor the situation closely: familiarity. Richards played one season alongside Tyrese Maxey at Kentucky, and both entered the NBA Draft after Richards’ junior year with the Wildcats. Richards went in the second round and began his pro career with the Charlotte Hornets.
What he has offered at the NBA level is steady production. Richards has averaged 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, along with nearly one block per night.
Compared with Bona and Hukporti, he brings more experience. But he has never appeared in the playoffs.
That detail matters. After five years with Charlotte, a season in Phoenix, and a 20-game stint with the Chicago Bulls, Richards has still logged no postseason experience, even with six years in the league. If Philadelphia is going to move on from a developmental big with upside, it would make sense to demand someone who has already proven himself under playoff pressure.
If Miami’s pursuit of Richards stalls and he remains on the market once the Sixers have more financial flexibility in the first couple of months, the conversation could shift. For now, though, Philadelphia probably does not need to panic about the Heat’s likely push for the veteran center.
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