Heat star center Bam Adebayo continues to be a selfless member of Miami’s core, Ira Winderman of South Florida’s Sun Sentinel writes. Even though he could have potentially made astronomically more next year if he was named Defensive Player of the Year or All-NBA, he settled on a three-year, $166MM extension with the Heat.
Adebayo explained the decision to go ahead and sign the contract now.
“Got to be smart,” Adebayo said. “First you take care of things now. And after two years, I can opt out and get it then. … I know what I am and where I should be, but those things are voted on by the media. They don’t play against me. They don’t know, no offense to them, what it takes.”
He also pointed to Florida’s lack of state income tax for a reason to put pen to paper now.
We have more from the Heat:
- Outside excitement regarding Adebayo potentially playing in two-big lineups has percolated since his rookie season when he was playing behind Hassan Whiteside. This summer playing next to Anthony Davis in the Olympics showed Adebayo is more than capable of such a task, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. Playing next to an anchor post like rookie Kel’el Ware is something that excites Adebayo. “It would take a lot more off my plate to do other things,” Adebayo said. “So when people move that goalpost for me with DPOY [Defensive Player of the Year] or All-NBA, it’s just like I get why they move it — my stats aren’t eye-popping. But it’s like if I’m guarding one through five and y’all are saying I can’t get DPOY, well there’s not a lot of DPOYs getting 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. And there’s not a lot of All-NBA players getting top five in DPOY voting every year. It’s just that the goal post moves for me.“
- The Heat know their offense needs to get better than it has been in the past two seasons, Chiang writes in a separate piece. That’s sent coach Erik Spoelstra back to the drawing board this offseason to look for solutions. Several players commended the new-look offensive scheme in camp, which has a focus on getting easy buckets in transition. During scrimmages, the Heat have adjusted scoring to count dunks and layups as three points, three-pointers as threes still and mid-range shots as one-pointers. “That just shows you how much emphasis we’re putting on getting wide open threes and wide open layups or shots at the basket,” Jaime Jaquez said. “I’m excited about it and I think the guys are, as well. It’s going to be a fun fast-paced year and we’re all excited for it.“
- Heat executive and former captain Udonis Haslem is impressed with what he’s seen on the defensive end from rookies Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson, Winderman writes. “Pelle and KJ for sure are letting us know they are here,” Haslem said. “They can blow up pick-and-rolls, they can get over, they can get through, they can get under. Once they get the schemes and everything, they have the mentality. They’ll be great for us.” The Heat lost Caleb Martin to free agency, so there will theoretically be some minutes to earn behind Haywood Highsmith as defensive wing stoppers.
- Both Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier struggled through injuries last season but are in good places entering training camp with Miami, Winderman pens in another piece. “This is home for me,” Herro said of the Heat. “I hope to be here for a while. We’re coming into my sixth season now. It’s crazy how fast time goes.“