Heat sign Precious Achiuwa to one-year nonguaranteed deal

The Miami Heat have agreed to a one-year, nonguaranteed contract with forward-center Precious Achiuwa, the team announced Wednesday, bringing back the 26-year-old big man who was originally drafted by Miami in 2020. The move comes just ahead of the Heat’s training camp and is intended to add frontcourt depth at power forward and center.

League and team sources described the deal as a veteran-minimum, nonguaranteed contract with a cap hit of roughly $2.3 million that would become fully guaranteed on Jan. 10 if the team does not waive him. Achiuwa appeared in 57 regular-season games with the New York Knicks last season, averaging 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in about 20.5 minutes per game, and logged limited minutes in eight postseason contests. He spent his rookie season in Miami after being selected 20th overall in 2020, then was traded to Toronto as part of the package that brought Kyle Lowry to the Heat before later moving to New York.

The signing is designed to provide size and interior options behind starter Bam Adebayo and backup Kelel Ware. With the Heat’s standard roster already populated with established rotation players and the organization also carrying a two-way...