The overwhelming belief, as NBA free agency begins to ramp down, is that the Miami Heat are looking for shooting and big guards to round out the supporting roster for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
However, it's probably safe to say that a rim-protecting big man could also be in the mix after an interesting one-liner from Pat Riley during Giannis' introductory press conference Thursday afternoon.
When asked about other potential moves that the Heat might make in free agency, Riley offered an option that hasn't really been discussed that much within the Heat media landscape. After these comments, though, that could likely change.
“I think we need a big. A different kind of big. Athletic and rim protector.”
Pat Riley is right; the Heat need another big
Objectively, sure, the Heat do need more shooting and size in the backcourt. However, they also could use another big man. More specifically, they could use a true backup center.
With the way the roster is currently built, Miami will be entering the season with a "4 and 5" rotation of Giannis, Bam, Bobby Portis, and Nikola Jovic. Maybe Simone Fontecchio slips in to get some minutes at the power forward position, and perhaps two-way Vlad Goldin could get some minutes here and there. But that's not enough.
That's certainly not enough if the Heat want to keep both Giannis and Bam fresh throughout the season. Adding another true center on the roster would be a great idea in building out this team.
Of course, even as Riley admitted this truth, that could end up being a lot easier said than done.
At this point in free agency, much of the big-man market has dried up. Finding a quality center could be a tough task for even the Heat's front office to accomplish.
Nick Richards could make sense for the Heat
One player that would fit the mold of what Riley hinted at is Nick Richards. Even though he's not a name that would get many Heat fans excited, he's a young athletic big who could seemingly thrive in a role next to two superstars like Giannis and Bam.
Splitting time between Phoenix and Chicago last season, Richards averaged six points and five rebounds on 51 percent shooting from the field. He played in just 48 games and averaged less than 15 minutes per contest.
Nevertheless, even just 15 minutes per game could make all the difference for a Heat team that would benefit from any added depth at this point.
With just three roster spots available and with the Heat seemingly wanting to keep one open in the event a strong buyout candidate emerges, a decision is going to have to be made pretty soon. And, with the way Riley was talking, it shouldn't be that surprising if the front office takes somewhat of an off-script approach with one of these final roster spots.
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