The Miami Heat have reportedly signed free agent center Nick Richards to a one-year contract. In turn, they've completed the process of learning from how the Milwaukee Bucks' lack of ideal depth doomed the Giannis Antetokounmpo era.
By signing Richards, the Heat have completed the formation of a second unit that can provide adequate relief to Antetokounmpo and the starters—a luxury the Bucks rarely provided.
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. pic.twitter.com/gAsCfab8b4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2026
Miami's starting lineup is expected to include Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins along the perimeter, All-Defense mainstay Bam Adebayo at center, and Antetokounmpo at power forward. There's uncertainty in regard to who will start at the 2, but Tim Hardaway Jr., Pelle Larsson, and Klay Thompson are all viable candidates.
Though the Heat need to improve their shot creation and playmaking along the perimeter, they've created room for patience by building a fairly deep rotation.
Miami's second unit will now be built around the quartet of Bobby Portis Jr., Richards, and two of Hardaway, Larsson, and Thompson. Add Nikola Jovic to the group and the Heat have no less than 10 talented and productive players to put on the court on any given night.
It must be reiterated that question marks exist, but after the Bucks' second unit ranked No. 20 or worse in net rating in three of the past five seasons, adequate depth should make Antetokounmpo's life much easier in Miami.
Heat have built a balanced second unit—which Milwaukee often lacked
The second unit will include a high-volume sharpshooter in Hardaway or Thompson, if not both veterans. This past season, Hardaway averaged 13.5 points per game and shot 40.7 percent from beyond the arc, while Thompson checked in at 11.7 points on 38.3 percent shooting from distance.
Larsson, meanwhile, averaged 11.4 points and 3.4 assists per game, shot 53.5 percent on drives, and ranked in the 94th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, per Basketball Index.
Portis, meanwhile, is a sharpshooting big man who averaged 13.7 points and 2.0 three-point field goals made per game on 45.6 percent shooting from distance. Alongside him is point forward Nikola Jovic, who has the unrefined tools to be an impact player at 6'10" with a guard-like skill set.
The last remaining question for the second unit, however, was simple: Who will back up Adebayo and Antetokounmpo as an ideal defensive anchor? Richards has thankfully answered the call.
Nick Richards was the missing piece for the second unit
Richards is something of a traditional big in the sense that the value he offers is primarily close to the basket. He's excellent in that capacity, as he finished the 2025-26 season ranked in the 84th percentile in rim protection, the 96th percentile in post defense, the 95th percentile in defensive rebounds per 75 possessions, and the 89th percentile in offensive rebounds per 75 possessions.
For those concerned with Richards' fluctuating minutes in 2025-26, he ranked in the 98th percentile in rim protection, the 92nd percentile in post defense, and the 98th percentile in both defensive rebounds and offensive rebounds per 75 possessions in 2024-25.
With Portis spacing the floor and Richards working the interior, the Heat could have one of the better backup big men pairings in the NBA in 2026-27. For Adebayo and Antetokounmpo, that means they could actually get the chance to rest during games rather than having to be on the court to avoid Miami experiencing a free fall.
The final piece of the starting lineup still needs to be decided, but the Heat signing Richards means they've completed their second unit and created the depth and balance Antetokounmpo lacked in Milwaukee.
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