The Heat have agreed to a one-year contract with big man Precious Achiuwa, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter). It’s a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary deal, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
Achiuwa was one of the top remaining frontcourt players on the free agent market. He appeared in 57 games with the Knicks last season, including 10 starts, and averaged 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per night. Achiuwa also saw limited minutes in eight postseason games.
Miami’s interest in signing him was reported earlier this month.
It’s the second stint for Achiuwa in the Heat organization. They drafted him with the No. 20 overall pick in 2020 and he played 61 games as a rookie.
Miami then traded him to Toronto in a deal that sent Kyle Lowry to the Heat. He played two-and-a-half seasons with the Raptors before getting traded to the Knicks during the 2023/24 season.
Achiuwa will provide depth at the power forward and center spots, assuming he makes the 15-man roster. Miami had a full camp roster and will have to shed a player to make the signing official.
If Achiuwa does stick with the Heat for the regular season, the team’s salary would move slightly above the luxury tax line. However, since luxury tax penalties are based on salaries at the end of the season, Miami would have until the trade deadline to duck back below that threshold.
In a side note the Chicago Bulls who live in the land of ” We don’t need no PF” showed their disdain for him by totally ignoring a reliable PF for even the minimal salary. Well played. Morons.
JERRY GONNA JERRY…
ADDING A PF DOESN’T BOOST REVENUE, SIGNING RANDOM BUMS FROM THE CITY IS THE BULLS WAY….THT WE ALREADY KNEW YOU BUDDY!
(caps lock sorry but yes i am emotional about this team).
Trey Lyles would have been good for them too. But he’s now overseas cause of no interest from NBA teams.
He’s a nice depth player. Unfortunately he hasn’t developed enough of an offensive game to get many minutes. Very limited offensively.
Maybe. But with Giddey, White, Vujevic and Buzelis shooting until their arms fall off the Bulls don’t really need a PF who can score, Rather just one who can guard somebody and rebound. But Donovan doesn’t believe in any of that.
Unclemike1526:
Yeah, he might’ve fit in there. However, I’m just saying he’s a very limited player and so he’s not a guy who’s ever going to start and play 35 minutes and be effective. He’ll be exposed. Decent back up though.
He’s a solid backup 4. Plays D and rebounds. Rooting for you Precious …..
Nice buy low pickup, got a chance to see him a lot as a Knicks fan last season. Good hustle, he’ll bring energy, decent rebounding and close to the bucket scoring.
Great pickup for the heat. Him and bam make a strong defensive front court