The Miami Heat have addressed the shortage in their power rotation by bringing back power forward Precious Achiuwa on a non-guaranteed veteran minimum contract in NBA free agency, a source confirmed Wednesday to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The move adds another player to a power rotation that features Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic and two-way player Vlad Goldin.
After operating most of the offseason with an intent to move below the punitive NBA luxury tax, the addition of Achiuwa puts the Heat back above that threshold. The Heat had dipped below that threshold with the salary dump of forward Haywood Highsmith in a trade last month with the Brooklyn Nets.
While not guaranteed a roster spot in light of his non-guaranteed contract, the move with Achiuwa creates a reunion with a player selected at No. 20 by the Heat in the 2020 NBA draft out of the University of Memphis.
The Heat then dealt Achiuwa and guard Goran Dragic in the 2021 offseason to the Toronto Raptors for guard Kyle Lowry.
Achiuwa was not retained by the New York Knicks in free agency this summer, after previously being dealt to New York in the trade that also delivered OG Anunoby to the Knicks.
Achiuwa, listed at 6 feet 8 and 243 pounds by the NBA, had filled in at center at times last season for the Knicks in the injury absence of Mitchell Robinson, with his playing time evaporating in the wake of Robinson’s return for New York’s run to the Eastern Conference finals.
The agreement with Achiuwa came in the wake of former Heat center Thomas Bryant signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency.
Achiuwa is coming off a $6 million salary last season with the Knicks. His agreement with the Heat comes with few roster spots remaining around the league, as teams have tightened their books due to not only the luxury tax, but also the punitive tax aprons and the hard cap several teams are now operating under.
Achiuwa appeared in 57 regular-season games last season with the Knicks, starting 10, averaging 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game. He then appeared in eight playoff games.
Achiuwa has stood as one of the NBA’s leading offensive rebounders in recent years, but also has dealt with foul trouble.
