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The HEAT Realm: Nick Richards says watching Giannis helped him develop a new mindset: “Just the way he's accomplished so much in this league already, attacks every single day, like he's still trying to prove himself, you know. I think just seeing a guy like that, how accomplished he is, and seeing the way he attacks every single day, you know, just ties me in thinking a different type of mindset.” (via @ClutchPoints/@ZachWeinberger)
Speaking with ClutchPoints in a one-on-one interview, Nick Richards wants to prove to Miami that he can make an impact in winning, with the goal for him being to participate in the postseason, which he hasn't done in his six seasons in the league. “For me, I feel like I could contribute on a winning organization,” Richards said Thursday at training camp at Florida Atlantic University. “I haven't been on a playoff team since I've been in the NBA, and I think that this team has a really good chance to make it, and I just want to do my best and to just play my part, no matter how small it is, just to be a part of that team.”
No doubt playing alongside a player like Antetokounmpo can help elevate any player's production on the floor, as Richards says he's “going to make everybody's life easier.” Aside from the play on the court, Antetokounmpo is helping Richards' approach to the game in itself. “Just the way he's accomplished so much in this league already, and he attacks every single day,” Richards said. “Like he's still trying to prove himself, you know. I think just seeing a guy like that, how accomplished he is, and seeing the way he attacks every single day, you know, just ties me in thinking a different type of mindset.”
Ira Winderman: Nick Richards acknowledged that the Heat’s one year, non-guaranteed offer was the best that was out there. His guarantee date is opening night.
The Heat signed Richards to a nonguaranteed one-year deal in late August to fill the 14th spot on its standard roster for this season. But Richards’ $3.1 million salary for this upcoming season becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on the Heat’s roster on opening night, according to a league source.
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Barry Jackson: For those asking about Gabe Vincent, there has been no Heat offer. Knicks brought him to New York earlier this week. New York signed 5 vets today to compete for 1 or 2 roster spots: Bruce Brown, John Konchar, James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks, Ochai Agbaji. Heat, which is hard-capped, added Nick Richards on this type of non-guaranteed deal but otherwise is holding onto a spot in case something needle-moving shakes free in months ahead.
Konchar would have interest in the Heat, but more so if Miami offers a guaranteed deal. And it seems doubtful that the Heat would offer a full guarantee because that would make it more difficult for Miami to add an appealing player on the buyout market during the season. Miami potentially could offer the type of nonguaranteed deal that it gave veteran center Nick Richards, whose $3.1 million salary becomes guaranteed if he’s on the opening night roster. A source was skeptical about whether Konchar would take a non-guaranteed deal but wouldn’t totally rule it out.
Heat Central: Nick Richards on why he chose the Miami Heat: “I feel I’m in the right situation that was best for me. — I think the way that the Heat has been known for guys that play physical, play hard, and play their role, I feel like that’s for me. I just keep doing that every single day and I’ll be fine. I think that there’s a lot of teams that passed up on me that I feel should’ve given me more consideration. I felt like it was time for me to resolve ‘you guys were wrong, you should have picked me’” (h/t @IraHeatBeat)
After the Heat picked up Nick Richards on a veteran’s minimum contract on Thursday, the list of free- agent big men became even shorter and more bleak. The most significant option for the Lakers could be Dwight Powell, the 6-10, 35-year-old big man who was teammates with Doncic for 6 ½ seasons in Dallas. Notably, Powell has played the most games as a teammate alongside Doncic (389) among the 98 players Doncic has played alongside in his eight-year NBA career. Besides Powell, the other realistic options are veteran journeymen Drew Eubanks, Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee — demonstrating the lack of quality big man free-agent targets.
Barry Jackson: With Nick Richards (who got Heat's 14th standard contract) agreeing to a non-guaranteed deal, Heat has flexibility to pounce on any player that emerges, that it likes, with a 15th roster spot or even the 14th roster spot.And only $500,000 of Myron Gardner's $2.6 M is guaranteed.
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Ira Winderman: Heat say Nick Richards will wear No. 8.
Shams Charania: Free agent center Nick Richards has agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Heat, sources tell ESPN. After signing Klay Thompson, the Heat fill roster slot No. 14 with a reserve big man.
Heat Central: Brian Windhorst on Nick Richards and the Heat’s final two roster spots: “The Heat may end up leaving the 15th spot open for a while to see what happens. They have been attached to Nick Richards who’s a 3rd string center and wouldn’t surprise me if he goes there on the minimum. — I do think Miami will be on the lookout for ball handling. It may not happen in October.”
Barry Jackson: Heat likely will leave 15th roster spot open for some time to see what shakes free. Preference is to use 14th on a power rotation player, with Nick Richards still remaining very much in play.
