Miami Heat: 3 best trade assets on the roster
By Simon Smith
2. Bam Adebayo
- Age: 20
- 2017-18 stats: 69 GP, 19.8 MPG, 6.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 51.2 FG%
- Contract remaining: $2.95 million next season; team option for 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons
Taken 13th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, Bam Adebayo made an immediate impact in his debut season with the Heat. At 6’10”, possessing a 7’2″ wingspan and elite athleticism, Adebayo has all the hallmarks to becoming a terrific, modern-day center.
Despite contending primarily with Hassan Whiteside and Kelly Olynyk for minutes at the center spot, Adebayo managed to complete 11 games for the season in which he played at least 30 minutes. Over this span, the Kentucky product averaged 12.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting at a 59.3 percent clip from the field.
https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/951106386200469506
Having recently competed in the 2018 NBA Summer League, head coach Erik Spoelstra recently explained how this was another key moment in his overall development:
"“A big part of his overall development this summer, is the continued development of his defense, his voice, of adding more responsibilities offensively, of having the offense run through him, not necessarily to shoot 20 times a game, but to make many more decisions offensively than he made previously. That only helps his versatility and our ability to use him in more ways in different lineups, all of that.”"
One notable tidbit from last season: on a per-36 minute basis, Adebayo comfortably led the team in averaging 5.2 screen assists, an incredibly impressive feat for a rookie.
Considering Adebayo’s enormous upside and team-friendly salary for the next three seasons, there’s bound to be no shortage of takers if the Heat to decided to use him as part of a trade package.