The Miami Heat are interested in bringing in a New York free agent power forward/center to fill out their roster as the 2025 offseason winds down, according to a recent report.
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After shipping out embattled six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler in a blockbuster trade deadline deal, the Heat have had a fairly quiet summer.
Miami’s biggest move was its decision to trade for former L.A. Clippers combo guard Norman Powell. The Heat also brought in forward Simone Fontecchio as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Detroit Pistons, sending out departing ex-Heat free sharpshooter Duncan Robinson in the offing.
Point guard Terry Rozier, who has only a partial guarantee on his contract for 2025-26, remains under federal investigation for suspicious gambling activity, per ESPN’s David Purdum.
Now, the Heat are considering a reunion with a free agent former big man, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Jackson notes that Miami has contemplated waiving Rozier now, but is also looking at scenarios in which the team could use his expiring $26.6 million contract as trade fodder down the line this season.
The Rozier scenario has been discussed a lot internally. Flip side is keeping Terry to use his salary potentially in a trade as a cap facilitator if a pricey star player asks out. https://t.co/FycPDq5Zyz
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 8, 2025
Per Winderman and Jackson, the Heat have been in touch with former New York Knicsk power forward/center Precious Achiuwa about joining the team via its open 15th roster spot.
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“Heat knows it probably needs to add a veteran big, with Precious Achiuwa among those contacted, as @IraHeatBeat noted. (Along with Kai Jones, etc.) Team has discussed 2 options: 1) Cutting Rozier (and paying him $24.9 M of his $26.6 M to go away) to add a big immediately while staying under tax. or 2) Wait until December, when they can sign a vet without surpassing tax.”
Jackson later posted a bit of an addendum about Achiuwa.
A little more on Precious Achiuwa, per source: Heat has not made an offer but indicated an interest if they are in position to make an offer down the road (they’re staying under tax at this time). Achiuwa, who has a place in South Florida, would welcome Heat return. Several other…
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 8, 2025
Jackson noted that Miami “has not made an offer but indicated an interest if they are in [a] position to make an offer down the road (they’re staying under tax at this time). Achiuwa, who has a place in South Florida, would welcome Heat return. Several other teams have inquired. Heat and Achiuwa’s camp will remain in touch.”
The 6-foot-8 Memphis product, who was selected by Miami with the No. 20 pick in 2020, appeared in 57 games for New York last regular season, averaging 6.6 points on 50.2 percent field goal shooting and 59.4 percent free throw shooting, plus 5.6 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per. Then-head coach Tom Thibodeau squeezed Achiuwa out of his postseason rotation, and he averaged just 4.3 mop-up minutes in eight contests through the Knicks’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
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