The Miami Heat unexpectedly reached the NBA Finals last season, and at the very least, they were expected to be in the mix this season when it came to the race for Eastern Conference supremacy.
They signed wing Josh Richardson as a free agent last summer, and at midseason, they traded for guard Terry Rozier in an attempt to add some much-needed scoring punch, but it didn’t work, as they exited in the first round of the playoffs.
The Heat are facing some real questions this offseason, but Richardson did decide to pick up his player option for next season in order to stay in Miami, per Shams Charania.
Heat guard Josh Richardson is picking up his $3 million player option to return for the 2024-25 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Richardson was a key part of Miami’s rotation before shoulder injury in February. He is expected to make a full recovery for next season. pic.twitter.com/xMFzbVULqx
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2024
Richardson, 30, stands 6-foot-5 and is considered a 3-and-D wing, which is the type of player Miami lacked last season.
He was a disappointment this year, as he shot just 34.7 percent from 3-point range and suffered a shoulder injury that limited him to just 43 games.
Despite their success over the last five years, Miami has often lacked offensive firepower, and this season, they were just 26th in scoring and 21st in offensive rating.
Right now, the most pressing question the franchise faces is the future of Jimmy Butler, who has been their leader and best player ever since he arrived in 2019.
There have been rumors that he could get traded, especially since he can opt out of his contract and become a free agent next summer.
On the other hand, center Bam Adebayo, a key member of the team, has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension to remain with Miami.
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