East Notes: Heat, Precious Achiuwa, Nets, Michael Porter Jr, Knicks

September 24, 2025

Heat

The Heat are bringing back a familiar face, agreeing to a one-year deal with big man Precious Achiuwa, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald adds that it’s a non-guaranteed minimum contract.

Achiuwa, 25, played 57 games with the Knicks last season, averaging 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds. Miami originally drafted him 20th overall in 2020 before including him in the trade that landed Kyle Lowry. He later spent time with the Raptors before heading to New York.

Assuming he sticks, Achiuwa would give Miami depth up front behind Bam Adebayo. To make it official, the Heat will have to trim the roster elsewhere.

And if he does make it, the Heat’s salary would move just above the luxury tax line, though they’d have until the deadline to duck back under.

Nets

Michael Porter Jr. knows he’ll have a different role in Brooklyn than he did in Denver. With the Nuggets, he was often the third option behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Now, the rebuilding Nets want him to carry more of the load late in games.

“I have to be ready to be fresh as a go-to guy in the fourth quarter,” Porter said, via the New York Post’s Brian Lewis. “There’s going to be some growing pains, but I’m ready for it.”

GM Sean Marks echoed that, saying Porter “has something to prove” as he adjusts to a bigger role on a younger team.

Knicks

Josh Hart believes he’s earned the right to start but insists he won’t make a fuss if new coach Mike Brown prefers to use him as a sixth man.

“I think I deserve to be a starter in the league,” Hart said, via the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. “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.”

Hart added that he’s preaching the same thing he did last season: sacrifice.