The Miami Heat’s rough start has already put Bam Adebayo in the middle of the conversation, and not in a good way.
At 2-5 through seven games, Miami has plenty to sort out, but the biggest issue so far may be the early fit between Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo has done his part, putting up 28.4 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists while looking every bit like his MVP self. Adebayo, meanwhile, has been up and down, and the criticism from fans and media has followed him through the first stretch of the season.
That tension has now spilled into trade speculation. In a recent piece for The Ringer, Howard Beck floated several names as possible candidates for the NBA’s next seismic deal, including Nikola Jokic, Devin Booker and Adebayo.
“In Miami, they’re now emanating from Adebayo, who struggled to mesh with Giannis in their first four games together (all losses) and then accused the media of making him a 'scapegoat' for that poor start because he had the audacity to point out those struggles,” Beck wrote. “But was Bam’s anger really about the commentary-or about his own diminished role and awkward fit alongside a new franchise star?”
Adebayo took the brunt of the blame after the Heat’s first two games, when his issues were most visible. In the season opener, a 25-point loss to Minnesota, he finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals while shooting 50%.
Then came the Oct. 23 loss to Detroit, when he fouled out in 23 minutes and managed just four points on 2-of-6 shooting, along with six rebounds and three assists. He has looked a little better since then, but the pairing with Antetokounmpo still appears shaky.
If Miami decides to make a major move this early, Antetokounmpo would not be the one on the block. The Heat paid a steep price to land him this summer, sending Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis to get him. That makes him the most untouchable piece on the roster for now.
Adebayo, though, is a different discussion. He has been one of the most reliable parts of the Heat’s success over the last eight seasons, but if the on-court fit with Antetokounmpo never clicks, a change could become possible.
If that happens, Beck pointed to two teams that make the most sense: the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks.
Boston has not had a true star center since winning the 2024 NBA Finals with Kristaps Porzingis. Since then, the Celtics have leaned on Neemias Queta, Al Horford and even Nikola Vucevic, who was acquired but faded into a non-factor late last season and barely played in the playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. They added Mitchell Robinson this offseason, but if the chance came to pair Jayson Tatum with Adebayo, it would be a tough move to turn down.
There is also a more distant possibility involving New York, where the Heat could send Adebayo to the Knicks for Karl-Anthony Towns, who is currently quietly undergoing a contract dispute with the defending champions.
In Other News...
Hornets Face A Big Decision In Norman Powell Trade Buzz
The early-season mess in Chicago has already turned the Bulls into one of the leagues most obvious teams to watch as the trade market develops, and Norman Powell has quickly moved into the center of that conversation. With the Bulls off to a 1-6 start and the possibility of a rebuild hanging over the roster, Powells value as a veteran scorer is drawing attention, and Jake Fischer has reported that he is a serious candidate to be moved before the February deadline.
For Miami, the appeal is easy to understand. The Heat are always looking for experienced perimeter help, especially when the market starts to thin out, and Powell fits the kind of playoff-ready profile they tend to monitor. Charlotte is in the mix too, which only adds another layer to a situation that could get crowded fast if Chicago decides to act, leaving the Hornets and Heat to weigh how aggressive they want to be when the asking price becomes clear. [Read more 🡒]
Dwyane Wade Just Put Bam Adebayo At Center Of Miamis Problem
Dwyane Wade has seen enough of the early-season drift to put Bam Adebayo squarely in the middle of Miamis search for answers. The Heat have been working new pieces into the rotation, but the bigger issue has been how disconnected the group has looked at times, and Wades point was simple: Adebayo has to be more than just a reliable anchor, he has to help organize the second unit and steady the group when the game starts to wobble.
For a team that prides itself on structure and accountability, that is no small ask, especially with Adebayo still trying to find his rhythm after a slow start. Wades message was less about talent than command, the kind of responsibility that can help a roster with new faces start to look like a real team instead of a collection of parts. The challenge now is whether Adebayo can answer it quickly enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Are Already Facing A Tough Klay Thompson Decision
Klay Thompson has given the Heat the kind of offensive spacing they wanted, but his early-season fit has already become a real talking point on the other end. Through the opening stretch, he has been the teams most troublesome starter defensively, sitting at the bottom of the lineup in both defensive rating and net rating, which has put Miami in an uncomfortable spot as it tries to settle into a rhythm.
The coaching staff is weighing whether to move Pelle Larsson into the starting five to tighten things up defensively, a change that would come with its own tradeoff. Miami would gain more resistance on the perimeter, but it could also lose some of the floor spacing that makes the offense work, leaving the Heat to choose which side of the ball they want to emphasize as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]