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Miami Heat draft grade: Bam Adebayo

By Kristopher Keaton

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Bam Adebayo (Kentucky) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number fourteen overall pick to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Bam Adebayo (Kentucky) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number fourteen overall pick to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Heat made an interesting pick that shocked quite a few people on draft night. Bam Adebayo was the guy the Heat wanted, but he may prove to be the guy that the Heat need.

Through the first 41 games of the season, the Miami Heat seemed to be on a collision course with the number one pick in the 2017 draft. However, what occurred was one of the most amazing turnarounds in league history. While it was fun to see the Heat find a way to compete, the end result was missing the playoffs and being on the back end of the lottery.

The Heat ended up with the last pick of the lottery and selected Bam Adebayo, the 6-10, 260 lbs. power forward/center from the University of Kentucky. The pick was a bit shocking to some, but the pick isn’t the stretch that it is believed to be.

At Kentucky, Adebayo was a part of the loaded 2016 recruiting class, which has become the norm. In fact, he was the highest ranked of the group, per ESPN. He played the background as guys like De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk became the more recognizable names from the team.

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Still, Adebayo was able to average a solid 17.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. Those numbers prove that he can score well around the basket and be a good rebounder as well. His strength happens to be on the defensive end of the floor, as his 2.0 blocks per 40 explain as well.

Ironically, his deficiency happens to be the one skill that the Heat are looking for: three point shooting. Adebayo took only one three-pointer in his lone season in college but has shown the development of a three-point shot in his workouts leading up to the draft. Is that a sign of the things to come? No one knows (though maybe the Heat are betting on it), but it is promising to see him working on his game.

While it is true that the Heat coveted a player that can stretch the floor at the power forward spot, Adebayo absolutely represents a talent improvement over what was already in place. James Johnson aside, there was no one on the roster that has Adebayo’s combination of size, ability, and potential.

At best, he’s a borderline star caliber role player, a la Tristan Thompson. At pick 14, that is pretty good value. Here’s to the future.

DRAFT GRADE: A-

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