Forward-center Precious Achiuwa is likely to be waived by the Miami Heat after the team completed its final preseason game Friday.
Achiuwa, who was signed to provide frontcourt depth behind Kel’el Ware and Bam Adebayo, was expected to serve as the team’s third center or as a stretch four.
In six preseason appearances, Achiuwa logged 48 total minutes and recorded two games in which he did not play. The Heat finished the preseason winless at 0-6.
It has been a challenging summer for Achiuwa, who struggled to find a new team after leaving the New York Knicks in free agency. With the Knicks signing forward Guerschon Yabusele — a player with a similar skill set — the team opted not to extend an offer to Achiuwa. That led to a brief reunion with Miami, the franchise that originally drafted him in 2020.
Although Achiuwa may not start the season on the Heat’s roster, he is expected to draw interest elsewhere. The 26-year-old has carved out a solid reputation as a role player, with his best production coming during his time with the Toronto Raptors. In the 2021-22 season, Achiuwa averaged 9.2 points and six rebounds per game.
During his stint with New York, Achiuwa’s minutes declined amid a deeper rotation, but he remained productive. In one and a half seasons with the Knicks, he averaged 7.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game.
As the regular season approaches, Achiuwa will look to land with a team seeking frontcourt depth and defensive versatility. Improving his outside shooting — he holds a career 30.4% mark from three-point range — could help secure his next opportunity.