25-under-25: Bam Adebayo is the center of the future

When the 2019-20 season opens up, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo will be in a completely new situation. Yes, he’s only played for the Heat during his first two years in the NBA, but over that time he’s been used as a change-of-pace piece. That changes this year.

This summer, the Miami Heat sent Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers — who will DJ Khaled Snapchat with now? — and opened the center position for Bam Adebayo to become their full-time starter.

At different points during his time in the NBA, Adebayo has shown flashes of being the type of modern big who could dominate in the small-ball era.

He progressed to a point last season where the team could no longer keep him on the bench. He supplanted Whiteside as the starter by the end of February.

It’s easy to see why Miami loves him. At 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he’s big enough and long enough to protect the basket — especially when you account for his 38.5-inch max vertical jump from the 2017 NBA Draft Combine.

But he’s also light on his feet and very agile for a player his size. This allows him to switch onto perimeter players and corral them into tough shots or keep them away from the basket.

The versatility doesn’t only impact his defensive abilities, as Adebayo also can do a little bit of everything on offense.

One of the biggest surprises has been how good of a playmaker he’s been. In March last year, he averaged 4.5 assists per 36 minutes. To put that number in perspective, two of the better passing big men Al Horford and Blake Griffin average 3.6 and 4.6 assists per 36 minutes for their careers.

If that carries over into this upcoming year, it would benefit greatly from having an All-Star in Jimmy Butler added into the fray. A two-man game between Butler and Adebayo could open up all types of opportunities for Erik Spoelstra’s offense next season.

Another developing piece of Adebayo’s game that could help unlock the Heat’s on-court play is his outside shot.

According to Adebayo, it’s the thing he’s been working on the most this offseason. After five seasons of watching Whiteside clog up the lane, having someone who can defend the rim and stretch the floor could change their attack completely.

We’ve only seen glimpses of his new tool. He was cut from Team USA this summer and there’s only so much faith one can put in pickup or pro-am league highlights.

As a 73 percent free-throw shooter for his career, there is hope that he can transition to shooting a few 3-pointers a game this season.

Miami believes so strongly in what Adebayo can become that it held him out of any discussions in its attempt to trade for Russell Westbrook. Turning down a chance to pair Butler with another All-Star is a big sign the Heat believe he’s ready to contribute now and in a big way.

For his sake, he better be. While bringing in Butler raises the floor for this team, we’ve seen what happens when young stars aren’t prepared to match the intensity that the eight-year NBA veteran plays with 24/7, 365 days a year.

There’s a gap between what Karl-Anthony Towns was (and is) when Butler was traded to Minnesota and where Adebayo is now talent-wise. Maybe lowered expectations from Butler could keep his wrath at bay to begin the year.

Regardless of his fit and relationship with Miami’s new sheriff, the Heat will need to see consistent production from him if they are to commit to him financially for the long-term.

On Wednesday, the Heat announced they will exercise the fourth-year option on his contract, meaning he will hit restricted free agency in the summer of 2021.

A big season this year could turn that option into an extension.

Given how rare it is for one player to have his combination of skills, it surely would be in Miami’s best interest to offer him top-market value.

The insider’s perspective

by Kenneth Wilson

Bam Adebayo is a ball of potential energy. With the emergence of more opportunity, along with his widening skill set, this season should see Bam take his game to the next level. What makes him so exciting to watch is the fact that he’s an athletic freak capable of snatching offensive shots right out of the air without goaltending, and the ability to finish at the hoop with power or finesse.

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