9-Year Vet Picks Up Player Option To Return To Miami Heat

Josh Richardson is joining the Miami Heat for his second tenure with the team in 2023-24. That partnership will continue for another season. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the 30-year-old will pick up his player option for the 2024-25 season. It is for slightly more than $3 million.

Last offseason, Richardson signed a two-year deal with the Heat (the second year being the player option he picked up). He will be entering his 10th season in the league. Richardson was one of three key Heat players on the shelf for their first-round meeting with the Boston Celtics. He is hoping for a healthier go-around this season.

9-Year Vet Picks Up Player Option To Return To Miami Heat

Josh Richardson Started His Career With the Heat

After playing four seasons collegiately at Tennessee, Richardson was selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by Miami. His first four seasons in the league were spent with the Heat. He started all 154 of his appearances in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

In the four seasons spanning from 2019-20 to 2022-23, Richardson suited up for five different teams. They were the Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, and New Orleans Pelicans. The six-foot-five Richardson split the 2022-23 season with the Spurs and Pelicans before returning to the Heat.

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

Last season with the Heat, Richardson played in 43 games (six starts). He posted averages of 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 25.7 minutes. He shot 44.4% from the field, 34.7% from beyond the arc, and an impressive 51-54 from the free throw line. While never an All-Defensive player, Richardson has always been known more for his grittiness on that end.

Unfortunately for him and the Heat, his 2023-24 season ended prematurely. He last played on February 11 as a right shoulder injury required surgery and ended his season. Reaching the NBA Finals in 2023, Miami had little chance to do so again with the injuries to the team. Along with Richardson, star player Jimmy Butler also missed the series against Boston. Another player out for the whole series was Terry Rozier, and the Celtics advanced in five games.

Richardson May Play Large Role Again

The Heat have two players who are free agents similar to Richardson’s size. One is Caleb Martin, who declined his $7.1 million player option. The 28-year-old Martin has started 72 games for Miami over the last two seasons and averaged a career-high of 10.0 points in 2023-24. He shot the ball efficiently in the 2023 playoffs as the Heat reached the NBA Finals.

Haywood Highsmith is also hitting the free agent market. The 27-year-old went undrafted out of Wheeling University in 2018 but has found a role with the Heat in the last two seasons. The six-foot-seven forward averaged 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game last season.