Miami Heat and Bam Adebayo Near Extension Agreement.
MIAMI — The Miami Heat and center Bam Adebayo are close to a potential compromise that would secure the All-Star for three more seasons, avoiding a costly waiting game.
Reports on Wednesday indicated an extension agreement, but a source familiar with the situation told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that negotiations are still ongoing.
Last season, if Adebayo had met the criteria for a supermax deal (worth $245 million over four years), he was expected to push for such an extension this summer. However, Adebayo, 26, did not qualify for NBA Defensive Player of the Year or make an All-NBA team, limiting him to a three-year, $165.8 million extension.
According to the Associated Press and The Athletic, this is now the figure under discussion. Had Adebayo eventually met the supermax criteria, he could have been eligible for a five-year, $346 million contract.
This extension would provide Adebayo with financial security in case of a career-threatening injury while saving the Heat significant salary cap space. Adebayo could still aim for the supermax by being named All-NBA or Defensive Player of the Year in the next two seasons.
Without the supermax, Adebayo’s starting salary in 2026-27 would be $51.2 million, compared to $59.7 million under the supermax, giving the Heat more flexibility against the luxury tax in the new NBA collective-bargaining agreement.
Drafted 14th by the Heat in 2015, Adebayo quickly signed a five-year, $163 million extension in 2020, which will pay him $34.9 million this season and $37 million in 2025-26. He could have become a free agent in 2026. With this three-year extension, Adebayo could then qualify for the highest veteran-maximum salary, 35% of his team’s overall salary cap, during his next free agency.
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