The Miami Heat are bringing back a familiar face, signing free agent forward/center Precious Achiuwa to a one-year contract.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Achiuwa, the Heat’s 2020 first-round pick, reached an agreement to return to Miami after recent stints with the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks.
According to Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang, the deal is fully non-guaranteed. The Heat will need to waive one of their Exhibit 10 players to create a preseason roster spot for Achiuwa, but the move does not push them over the luxury tax threshold.
Achiuwa, 25, spent his rookie year in Miami before being dealt to Toronto in the 2021 sign-and-trade that brought Kyle Lowry to South Florida. Since then, he has developed into a versatile big man capable of guarding multiple positions.
Last season with the Knicks, Achiuwa averaged 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds across 49 games while shooting 50.2 percent from the field. He also added 0.8 steals per game, highlighting his defensive activity.
Free-throw shooting remains a weakness, as he converted just 59.4 percent from the line in 2023-24. Still, his energy, rebounding, and ability to run the floor fit Miami’s system.
For his career, Achiuwa has posted averages of 7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 320 regular-season games. He has also logged 26 playoff appearances with the Heat, Raptors, and Knicks, giving him valuable postseason experience.
The Heat enter training camp thin in the frontcourt behind Bam Adebayo. Thomas Bryant and Orlando Robinson saw minutes last season, but Miami has continued to seek depth with short-term contracts.
Achiuwa’s return offers flexibility for Erik Spoelstra, who has often relied on small-ball lineups when Adebayo rests. His defensive versatility and familiarity with the Heat culture make him a strong candidate to carve out minutes in the rotation.
Whether Achiuwa secures a permanent roster spot will depend on his performance in preseason and training camp. But for now, Miami has added another option to reinforce its interior.
