The New York Knicks’ search for another center has reached the final week of August without a resolution. One of their most logical options may not remain available much longer.
Free agent center Nick Richards has emerged as a player of “considerable interest” to the Miami Heat, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported. Richards is weighing several options, and Jackson noted that another team may have offered him more guaranteed money.
Miami has not closed a deal. But its pursuit has clearly advanced beyond the exploratory stage.
The Heat are finalizing an agreement with Klay Thompson for their 13th standard roster spot, with the signing potentially becoming official Sunday. Miami intends to use its 14th spot on a frontcourt player capable of handling minutes at center or power forward, and Richards has moved near the front of that search.
For the Knicks, the timing is uncomfortable.
New York has only 13 players on standard contracts and two natural centers: Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond. All three two-way positions also remain vacant, making the defending champions the NBA’s only team without a player signed to a two-way contract.
Heat Intensify Pursuit of Nick Richards
Getty Nick Richards of the Chicago Bulls dunks the ball during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center on March 1, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
As Jackson previously reported, Richards has been working out with Heat players at Kaseya Center while wearing Miami gear.
At the time, Miami had discussed signing him but had not made an offer. Jackson’s latest report represents a meaningful development: Richards is now described as a player of considerable interest while the Heat actively work to fill their next roster spot.
Miami also has other unidentified centers under consideration and could wait to see which players become available before Aug. 29. That is the NBA deadline for teams to waive players and stretch their remaining cap charges across multiple seasons.
The Heat must sign a 14th player to a guaranteed, partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed standard contract before adding players on Exhibit 10 training-camp deals.
Richards could offer Miami a direct route to minutes behind Bam Adebayo, with additional opportunities available when Adebayo slides to power forward.
New York cannot promise the same role. Drummond is expected to serve as Towns’ primary backup, leaving a third center to compete for situational minutes.
Knicks’ Roster Silence Becomes More Noticeable
Richards, 28, averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes across 48 games with Phoenix and Chicago last season. He has career averages of 7.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks over 305 games, including 114 starts.
He would give coach Mike Brown another traditional rim protector and rebounder, along with insurance against an injury to Towns or Drummond.
The Knicks’ interest in Richards predates this summer. SNY’s Ian Begley previously reported that New York had explored him in an earlier center search, while ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel identified Richards as a candidate after Mitchell Robinson left for Boston. But the Knicks have since signed Drummond to fill Robinson’s void.
There has been no confirmation that New York has made Richards a current offer.
That distinction matters now. Miami has a roster need, a pathway to playing time and Richards already training inside its building. If another interested team has guaranteed money available, the Knicks’ minimum-contract options become even less persuasive.
New York still has time to complete its roster. But as August deepens, patience is beginning to look less like strategy and more like risk.
Knicks Get Troubling Nick Richards Update Amid Ongoing Center Search