Miami Heat had put their star center Bam Adebayo in a unique position this offseason. All-Stars usually get their rookie extensions in a heartbeat, but that wasn’t the case with Bam. After having one of his career-best seasons last year, the Heat should have readily handed it over to him. But they had other plans with their cap space that surrounded Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Heat was hoping to utilize their 2021 cap space to bring in an additional superstar to go with Jimmy Butler. And the man they had their eyes set on was Giannis. Bam and Giannis having the same agent made this all the more chaotic. The problem was that if Heat gave Bam his extension, it would make it extremely tough for them to get Giannis if he enters free agency next year.
The pressure piled on when the remaining players like Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell from the 2017 Draft class got their respective extensions from their franchise.
With rumors making the rounds, Giannis also spoke up on the matter. Barry Jackson wrote on Twitter, “Someone who knows Giannis well told me Giannis would be more impressed by Heat extending Bam than by making Bam wait a year for his money to get Giannis more easily. Bam and Giannis are friends.”
By the way, someone who knows Giannis well told me Giannis would be more impressed by Heat extending Bam than by making Bam wait a year for his money to get Giannis more easily. Bam and Giannis are friends.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) November 24, 2020
The Miami Heat couldn’t say no to Bam
After weeks of wait and wondering, the wait has finally ended for Bam. According to Barry Jackson, “Bam expected to speak to reporters at his third annual Thanksgiving food drive today in Miami. His agent, Alex Saratsis, confirmed his new max deal to us, as he did with ESPN. 5 year value of deal rises from $163 M to $195M if Bam is MVP, on one of 3 All NBA teams or Def. POY.”
Bam expected to speak to reporters at his third annual Thanksgiving food drive today in Miami. His agent, Alex Saratsis, confirmed his new max deal to us, as he did with ESPN. 5 year value of deal rises from $163 M to $195M if Bam is MVP, on one of 3 All NBA teams or Def. POY.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) November 24, 2020
Adebayo’s ability to score in different ways and being able to defend any position is what makes him valuable for the Heat’s contention next season. He deserves a lot of the credit for their run to the NBA Finals too.
While the Heat does benefit from signing Bam, they might have risked their chances of signing Giannis financially. Although this isn’t impossible, the Heat will have to plan more strategically to make it happen.
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