The Miami Heat waived big man Precious Achiuwa and three others before the start of the regular season, a source close to the team tells Anthony Jiang miami herald on Friday.
Miami also released guard Ethan Thompson, center Dane Danja and guard Baez Mben, according to Chiang. All four players signed non-guaranteed contracts through training camp.
Miami Heat now $1.6 million below luxury tax line
By cutting Achiuwa before the start of the regular season, the Heat lowered their luxury tax threshold. Miami is now $1.6 million below the luxury tax line.
Achiuwa, a 6-foot-8 forward/center, was selected by the University of Miami with the 20th overall pick in the 2020 draft out of the University of Memphis and has played in the NBA for the past five years.
The 26-year-old has played 320 regular season games (72 starts) for the Heat, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks, averaging 20 minutes per game, averaging 7.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists.
The Heat have informed Precious Achiuwa that he will be fired.
— Ira Windman (@IraHeatBeat) October 18, 2025
Last season, he played 57 games (10 starts) for the Knicks, averaging 20.5 minutes per game, scoring 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and shooting 0.502/.278/.594.
Achiuwa, 26, joined the Heat in September on a one-year contract.
During the preseason, Achiuwa averaged 11.7 minutes per game in four exhibition games with the Heat this year, scoring 4.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and shooting 41.2% from the field.
He did not play in Miami’s preseason finale on Friday.
Thompson, Dainja, Mben are expected to participate in the Development League
Thompson, Dainja and Mbeng signed Exhibit 10 contracts with Miami and are now eligible for bonuses of up to $85,300 as long as they play at least 60 days with the team’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
The moves also indicate guard Jahmir Young will fill the Heat’s third and final two-way spot, according to Ira Winderman. south florida sun sentinel.
Young, a 6-foot-1 point guard who went undrafted out of Maryland in 2024, began his career with the Grand Rapids Golds before signing a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls in February.
In the four preseason games, Young averaged 9.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 44.8% from the field and 4 of 8 three-pointers (50%).
Miami is expected to convert Young’s Exhibit 10 deal to a two-way contract, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Teams can do so before the start of the regular season.
Teams must also trim their rosters to a maximum of 18 players before the start of the regular season – 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way contracts.
Following these moves, the Heat’s roster is reduced to 14 players on standard contracts, below the NBA’s regular-season cap of 15 players on standard contracts.
The 14 players who signed standard contracts include Bam Adebayo, Simone Fontecchio, Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakousionis, Jamie Jaquez Jr., Keshad Johnson, Nikola Jovic, Pel Larsson, Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell, Terry Rozier, Drew Smith, Kyle Ware and Andrew Wiggins.
The Heat will open their 2025-26 season on the road against the Orlando Magic on October 22.
