Heat bring back Precious Achiuwa; Porter Jr. anticipates larger role with Nets; Hart willing to come off Knicks bench
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June 2024 — The Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks each made news Monday as roster plans and player expectations came into sharper focus.
Heat
The Heat have reached a one-year agreement with forward/center Precious Achiuwa, according to ESPN. The 25-year-old will join Miami on a non-guaranteed minimum contract, giving the club additional depth behind All-Star center Bam Adebayo.
Achiuwa was drafted 20th overall by Miami in 2020 and later shipped to Toronto in the deal that brought Kyle Lowry to South Florida. He appeared in 57 games for the Knicks last season, averaging 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds.
Miami will have to clear a roster spot before the signing becomes official. Adding Achiuwa would also nudge the Heat’s payroll above the luxury-tax threshold, though the front office could still move back under the line before the league’s deadline.
Nets
Michael Porter Jr. acknowledged he will shoulder greater responsibility in Brooklyn than he did with the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. “I have to be ready to be fresh as a go-to guy in the fourth quarter,” Porter told the New York Post. “There’s going to be some growing pains, but I’m ready for it.”
During his time in Denver, Porter typically served as the third offensive option behind Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Nets general manager Sean Marks said the 6-foot-10 forward “has something to prove” as he moves into a bigger role on a younger roster.
Knicks
Josh Hart believes he has earned a starting job but said he will not object if new head coach Mike Brown uses him as a sixth man. “I think I deserve to be a starter in the league,” Hart told the New York Post. “But at the end of the day, it’s what’s best for the team. It would be extremely selfish for me to go out there and demand to start.”
The versatile guard/forward added that he continues to preach “sacrifice,” echoing the mindset he adopted throughout last season.
Source: Hoops Wire
