Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse reacts to a call against the New York Knicks during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse reacts to a call against the New York Knicks during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
As the Philadelphia 76ers get prepared for the 2026-2027 NBA season, they have one roster spot open. As of late August, the Sixers don't intend to use that spot. For strict financial reasons, if Philly wanted to add somebody through free agency, there would have to be a corresponding move.
The center position is the top-heavy Sixers' biggest worry at the moment. Joel Embiid has injury concerns, while Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti still have plenty to prove. There's an intriguing center available on the market in Nick Richards. Still, the 28-year-old is gaining plenty of attention from the Miami Heat. Any chance of the 76ers playing the waiting game to land Richards months from now is getting slimmer by the day.
Nick Richards is hovering on the Miami Heat's radar
According to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, the Heat are likely to take a similar approach to the Sixers by keeping their 15th spot on the roster open. Since they have two spots available, Richards has been deemed "very much in play."
Not only is Richards getting linked to the Heat in free agency rumors, but he's been working out at the team's facility, wearing Heat gear. Several reports have made it clear that there isn't a deal in place--or even on the table to the public's knowledge--but all signs are pointing to Richards joining the Heat's frontcourt behind the stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Should the Sixers make it a competition?
Familiarity matters in the NBA. Richards has that in Philadelphia, as the former Kentucky center shared the court with Tyrese Maxey for one season in the NCAA. After his junior season with the Wildcats, Richards entered the NBA Draft at the same time as Maxey. He was taken in the second round, starting his career with the Charlotte Hornets.
Richards has been consistent throughout his career, posting averages of 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while blocking nearly one shot per game. In comparison to Bona and Hukporti, Richards has more experience. The big problem? Richards has zero playoff experience.
After five years with the Charlotte Hornets, a season in Phoenix, and a 20-game run with the Chicago Bulls, Richards has less postseason experience than Bona and Hukporti, despite having six years in the league. If the Sixers are going to cut ties with a developmental piece who still has upside, they better be getting a proven postseason contributor.
If the Heat option falls through, and Richards sticks to the open market through the first couple of months when the Sixers gain financial freedom, then maybe we can have a different conversation. For the time being, the Sixers shouldn't be too worried about Miami's probable quest to bring in the veteran big man.
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