DHJ Quick Take: Three Teams That Should Consider a Bam Adebayo Trade
With the Miami Heat stuck in the play-in tier and Bam Adebayo coming off a historic 83-point night, a rebuild built around trading him is starting to make sense. Here are three teams that should take a look.
- Why would the Heat trade Bam Adebayo? Years of 10th-place mediocrity appear to be wearing on him, and his trade value would give Miami a head start on a rebuild.
- Why do the Toronto Raptors fit? Adebayo would let Toronto double down on a switchy, pass-heavy identity, even though it leaves their spacing problem unsolved.
- Why do the Golden State Warriors fit? He and Draymond Green would anchor an elite defense, though Golden State may prefer a bigger swing like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
- Why do the Houston Rockets fit? Adebayo’s switchable defense would address Alperen Şengün’s biggest weakness, and defense is exactly what Ime Udoka prizes.
It has generally felt like the Miami Heat would never trade Bam Adebayo. That feeling is starting to shift.
Generally, the Heat don’t make a habit of trading good players. This organization rarely looks into the distant future. More often, they maintain a focus on the present. The Heat want to win every year.
That win-now instinct is why Miami remains linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo. But if its latest star pursuit falls short, moving Adebayo becomes a logical pivot.
The problem is that the well is running dry. At 38-34, the Heat finished 10th in the Eastern Conference. That type of mediocrity has typified them for a while.
It seems like it’s starting to wear on Adebayo, based on his late-season commentsabout the play-in tournament. The return they’d receive for the recent 83-point scorer would be enough to get their rebuild started.
Here are three teams that ought to take a look at him.
Toronto Raptors
When discussing a player’s fit with a team, there are several dimensions to consider. Do they strengthen a position of weakness? Do they fit into what the team wants to do?
For the Raptors and Adebayo, the answers are a resounding no and a yes. The Raptors already have multi-positional defenders and plus-positional passers. They need floor spacing.
Yet, if they’re looking to triple down on their strengths, Adebayo could be intriguing. The Raptors could switch everything defensively. Offensively, the ball could move crisply enough to offset the lack of shooting. This could work if the Raptors want to crystallize their already strong identity.
Golden State Warriors
By contrast, the Warriors haven’t had spacing issues in over a decade. Having the best shooter in NBA history has a way of minimizing those issues. Golden State has had tremendous success when they’ve gotten extra passing from their 5, whether it’s been Andrew Bogut or going small with Draymond Green.
Speaking of Green, he and Adebayo would be a terror on the defensive end. There is nothing to dislike about the basketball fit here. There’s only one question: Is it enough?
The Warriors have also been linked to Antetokounmpo. At 34-38, it’s fair to wonder whether they need a bigger splash than even Adebayo to put themselves back in title contention before Stephen Curry retires.
If that’s how they feel, this next team is a bit closer to winning it all.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets already get playmaking at the 5 spot. Alperen Şengün is an even better passer than Adebayo. Despite the latter’s recent 83-point explosion, it’s fair to say that Şengün has been a more consistent scorer over the past couple of years. So, why would the Rockets want Adebayo? Defense.
Adebayo is one of the only legitimate switch bigs in the NBA. Şengün can be a liability on that end of the floor. The gap on defense is wider than the offensive discrepancy between the two.
We know that matters to Ime Udoka. He’s among the most defensive-minded coaches in the league. It’s an area of the floor Miami has typically valued, so the Heat may not even covet Şengün. That said, if there was a three-team deal on the table, the Rockets would likely consider it.
If the Heat are even open to moving their franchise cornerstone.
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