The Miami Heat needed depth in the frontcourt, and they finally addressed the issue on the eve of the start of NBA Training Camp. After the Heat signed Precious Achiuwa to a one-year deal, there may not be a happier man on the Heat than Bam Adebayo.
The move to bring in another big man will certainly take some of the pressure off Bam's shoulders. Ideally, Precious will be able to give Bam a few more minutes on the sideline and help give Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra more flexibility with his big man rotation.
Even though Bam will still carry much of the weight this season for the Heat, there's no question that the signing of Precious will be helpful in not only taking some pressure off Bam but also Kel'el Ware. And I don't think that's being talked about much, and it should be.
This is not just a win for Bam, but it could also be viewed as a victory for Ware.
Heading into a sophomore season with significant pressure on his shoulders, he'll more than welcome the added veteran help. Both on and off the floor, there's reason to believe that Precious could be beneficial for Ware as a developing young player.
Why the Precious Achiuwa signing was a no-brainer for the Heat
Not only was Precious one of the more experienced big men that the Heat could've signed, but he also has some familiarity with the organization already. Those two things made this an easy no-brainer decision for the Heat.
Over the years, it's pretty clear that the Heat has valued familiarity. It's one of the bigger reasons why the Heat would much rather keep their own players rather than make trades and signings just for the sake of change. Unless it's for a significant upgrade, you rarely see the Heat make a move for the fun of it.
Even though Precious hasn't exactly been the most productive player over the course of his young career, he does have a proven track record as a capable rotation big.
In 57 games played for the New York Knicks last season, Precious averaged seven points and six rebounds on 50 percent shooting from the field. Sure, Precious is somewhat of an undersized big man, but he can play the position.
And, at the very least, he'll give Miami another body that could buy them some minutes or a few games when Bam and/or Ware need the break.
In the end, the Heat had to make some sort of addition to their frontcourt soon. Making the signing of Precious official always seems like the most logical outcome. And there is not a player on the roster who will benefit more from this move than Bam.