Amid trade rumors about Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat have made a notable effort to secure another key player. Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reports that the Heat plan to sign star center Bam Adebayo to a three-year, $166 million maximum contract extension. Although Adebayo was eligible for a four-year, $245 million supermax contract if selected to one of the All-NBA teams, the three-year deal is still significant for the 26-year-old.
Despite having two years left on his five-year, $163 million extension signed in 2020, the Heat decided to proactively extend Adebayo’s contract through the 2028-29 season. This move follows a May report from Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald indicating that the Heat intended to offer Adebayo a “lucrative” extension this offseason.
In the 2023-24 season, Adebayo averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, earning his third All-Star selection. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time after four consecutive Second Team selections and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, marking his fifth consecutive top-five finish in the award’s voting.
While the Heat have solidified their future with Adebayo’s extension, Butler’s status remains unclear. Team owner Pat Riley surprised many by expressing disinterest in extending Butler’s contract this summer, stating, “We have not discussed that internally right now… We don’t have to do it until 2025, actually. But we’ll see.”
Butler is contracted for $48.8 million in 2024-25 with a player option for $52.4 million in 2025-26. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Butler, the Heat can feel more secure with Adebayo’s extension, as he is a crucial player for Miami’s future.
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