[ad_1]
The Heat sign Bam Adebayo for a maximum contract extension, which would make it much more difficult for them to open a maximum cap for Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021.
The simplest interpretation: Miami knows that Antetokounmpo will sign a super-max extension with the Bucks.
But what if the Heat believes the Adebayo expansion is actually helping their cause with Antetokounmpo?
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:
A source familiar with Antetokounmpo said he would be more impressed with the Heat giving the extension to Adebayo now than asking Adebayo to wait a year in order to facilitate the Heat’s acquisition of Antetokounmpo.
I’m sure Antetokounmpo – who shares an agent, Alex Saratsis, with Adebayo – now enjoys the warmth that rewards Adebayo. Antetokounmpo values ​​camaraderie and hard work, and Adebayo has made his way to become a centerpiece of Heat’s identity. Adebayo deserves maximum offer.
But Adebayo could also have gotten the same exact maximum terms – five years, projected $ 163 million ($ 196 million if you become All-NBA or win Defensive Player of the Year next season) – in 2020 in free agency. . By delaying, Miami could have made it much easier to open up maximum space for Antetokounmpo. And again: Adebayo would always have been paid exactly the same amount.
I bet – if he wants to join the Heat – Antetokounmpo would also appreciate a team that has a maximum of assets to build around him. With Adebayo’s expansion, Miami’s ways to acquire Antetokounmpo (sign and trade, open up near-maximum cap space and then use an unlikely bonus trick) would involve getting rid of players like Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, KZ Okpala and Precious Achiuwa and choices.
Antetokounmpo might like the idea d’Adebayo securing the bag now. But if he arrives in free agency next year, Antetokounmpo may not find the Heat as attractive as he would with an unstretched Adebayo.
[ad_2]
Source link