The Miami Heat have waived big man Precious Achiuwa and three others ahead of the regular season, a source close to the team said Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald on Friday.
Miami also released guard Ethan Thompson, center Dain Dainja and guard Bez Mbeng, according to Chiang. All four players were signed to non-guaranteed training camp contracts.
The Miami Heat are now $1.6 million under the luxury tax line
By waiving Achiuwa before the start of the regular season, the Heat falls below the luxury tax threshold. Miami is now $1.6 million below the luxury tax line.
Achiuwa is a 6-foot-4 forward/center who has spent the last five years in the NBA after being selected 20th overall by Miami in the 2020 draft out of the University of Memphis.
The 26-year-old played in 320 regular-season games (72 starts) with the Heat, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks, averaging 7.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 20 minutes per game.
The Heat have informed Precious Achiuwa that he will be released.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) October 18, 2025
In 57 games (10 starts) with the Knicks last season, he averaged 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 20.5 minutes per game with a shooting line of .502/.278/.594.
Achiuwa, 26, joined the Heat in September on a one-year deal.
During the preseason, Achiuwa averaged 4.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 11.7 minutes per game while shooting 41.2% from the floor in four exhibition appearances with the Heat this year.
He did not play in Friday’s preseason finale in Miami.
Thompson, Dainja and Mbeng would play in the G League
Thompson, Dainja and Mbeng had Exhibit 10 contracts with Miami and are now eligible for bonuses worth up to $85,300 as long as they spend at least 60 days with the team’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
These moves also indicate that guard Jahmir Young will fill the Heat’s third and final two-way spot, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Young, a 6-foot-1 point guard who left Maryland in 2024, began his professional career with the Grand Rapids Gold before signing a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls in February.
Young averaged 9.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44.8% from the field and 4-for-8 (50%) from 3-point range in four appearances this preseason.
According to Michael Scotto from HoopsHype, Miami is expected to convert Young’s Exhibit 10 deal into a two-way contract. Teams may do this before the start of the regular season.
Teams must also reduce their rosters to a maximum of 18 players – 15 on standard contracts and three on two-way contracts – at the start of the regular season.
Following these moves, the Heat’s roster has been reduced to 14 players on standard contracts – one below the NBA’s regular-season cap of 15 players on standard contracts.
The 14 players who have signed standard contracts include Bam Adebayo, Simone Fontecchio, Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Keshad Johnson, Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell, Terry Rozier, Dru Smith, Kel’el Ware and Andrew Wiggins.
The Heat visit the Orlando Magic on October 22 to open their 2025-2026 season.
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