After making a surprising championship run in the playoffs, the Miami Heat will have a lot of decisions to make this offseason. There are the upcoming free agency decisions of Jae Crowder, Goran Dragic, and other role players. However, the biggest decision of the offseason will involve the contract talks with rising star big man Bam Adebayo. Adebayo is eligible for a rookie max extension.
According to Shams Charania, rival teams are expected to keep an eye on the situation.
"Rival teams are monitoring Bam Adebayo’s extension situation and the aftereffects if Miami bypasses extending their superstar big man."
– @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/G7GZA4hhPY
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) October 15, 2020
Cornerstone of the Franchise
Miami is not letting Bam Adebayo go. He is the cornerstone of that franchise. We saw how important he was for the team during the 2020 playoffs. They’re not finding another player that can do the things Adebayo can on the basketball floor. If Adebayo wants to sign the extension, then a deal will get done. However, the extension will have a huge impact on the team’s 2021 plans. If Bam signs the extension, then Miami will likely have to make some trades to open up a max slot, especially if the projected 2021 cap drops.
Bam’s decision could also impact the decision of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Like Bam, Giannis is also eligible for a max extension this off-season. It’s also interesting to note that both players share the same agent. So if neither of them signs extensions this offseason, then that’ll likely catch the eye of the whole league. It’s already no secret that Miami is planning to pursue Giannis in the 2021 free agency. Adding the two-time MVP Antetokounmpo to this roster will make Miami a dangerous team.
In all, Bam’s decision this offseason could not only have an impact on Miami but the NBA as well. This could be the real reason why rival teams are monitoring the situation.
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