NBA Notes: Heat, Nick Richards, Raptors, Jakob Poeltl, Wizards

Heat

The Heat are taking a look at free agent center Nick Richards, though that doesn’t necessarily mean a signing is coming.

Richards has been working out in Miami alongside several Heat players, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Jackson reports that Miami has considered adding the 28-year-old big man, but no offer has been made.

If one does come, it would be for the veteran’s minimum.

Jackson also cautioned against reading too much into Richards’ presence. The Heat regularly bring unsigned players into their offseason workouts, both to provide additional bodies and to evaluate potential roster fits. Kai Jones did the same thing last summer without ultimately signing with Miami.

Richards split last season between the Suns and Bulls, averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes over 48 games.

Miami currently has 12 players on standard contracts and continues to wait on Klay Thompson, whom the Heat would love to sign if he reaches a buyout with Dallas. Richards could become an option for another spot, particularly given Pat Riley’s stated desire to add another big man who can either protect the rim or stretch the floor.

Richards certainly fits the former description.

Jackson adds that Miami is waiting to see which other centers become available, while DeMar DeRozan and former Heat guard Gabe Vincent are among the other free agents on the team’s radar.

Raptors

Jakob Poeltl remains a perfectly capable NBA starting center. The question for the Raptors could eventually become whether capable is good enough.

That’s the issue raised by Rocco Moschella of Raptors On SI, who suggests Toronto may eventually have to consider upgrading at center if its pending addition of Kawhi Leonard turns the Raptors into a legitimate championship contender.

Poeltl averaged 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 70 percent from the field last season, but appeared in only 46 games. His lack of shooting also gives opponents something to attack schematically, as Cleveland demonstrated at times during the teams’ seven-game first-round playoff series.

That doesn’t mean Toronto should be shopping Poeltl simply for the sake of doing it.

The Raptors still need his size and rebounding, and there’s no obvious reason to make a change unless a clear upgrade becomes available. But with a potential core of Leonard, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and an improving group of young players, Toronto suddenly has bigger goals than simply reaching the postseason.

That could make Poeltl’s fit worth watching as the season unfolds.

Wizards

Are the Wizards actually ready to make the playoffs?

Bryson Akins of Wizards On SI believes they are, pointing to Washington’s dramatically revamped roster following an offseason that brought Trae Young, Anthony Davis and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa to town.

The depth is certainly intriguing.

Young, Davis, Dybantsa and Alex Sarr appear to have four starting spots locked down, with Kyshawn George perhaps the favorite for the fifth. That would leave Washington with a bench that could include Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, D’Andre Ayton, Bub Carrington, Justin Champagnie and Khris Middleton.

Akins also points to the potential Davis-Sarr combination as a major reason Washington could improve defensively. Coulibaly gives coach Brian Keefe another high-level perimeter defender off the bench, while George provides size and versatility on the wing.

Of course, much of Washington’s ceiling will depend on health, particularly with Davis.

But after years spent accumulating young talent and lottery picks, these Wizards are clearly constructed differently. Whether that means an immediate playoff appearance remains to be seen, but merely discussing Washington in those terms no longer feels ridiculous.