Josh Richardson‘s return to the Miami Heat has been in the Heat’s sights, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. This has always been the case since 2019. A young dynamic two-way player, Richardson was always valued by Miami, but he had to be a part of the deal to acquire Jimmy Butler from Philadelphia. Since then, the 30-year-old swingman has moved around the league, playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and San Antonio Spurs before coming back to Miami this summer on a two-year veteran’s minimum contract.
“It’s always kind of been there,” Richardson said of his return to the Heat. “It almost happened a couple times. But all the chips didn’t fall in place. But I mean, when I left, me and (coach Erik Spoelstra) talked about it that it was going to happen eventually. It’s just one of those things.”
Spoelstra recalls that conversation as well, during which he informed Richardson that the team would probably try to sign him again in the future. This summer, on the first night of free agency, Spoelstra made contact with Richardson and persuaded him to stay.
“It was one of those special conversations because we were able to revisit some of the things that we talked about back when he left,” Spoelstra said. “One of the things was he was a big piece, obviously, to get the transformative piece (Butler) for us. You take that as an incredible compliment as a player. Sometimes it sucks in this business to be involved in a move like that. But we invested so much in him.”
Richardson’s Role
The last time Richardson was in Miami, he was cast as the Heat’s number one option. However, his role is entirely different now with Butler and Bam Adebayo being the Heat’s two all-stars. Given the current roster construction, the 30-year-old guard might end up as the Heat’s starting point guard or shooting guard, sixth man, or perimeter defensive specialist, among other roles. He’s a capable shooter and dependable defender who can fit into any lineup. We’ll find out where Richardson lands once the regular season starts on October 25.
