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Bam Adebayo ‘shocked’ the Heat with ball handling skills

By Wes Goldberg

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally altered) Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally altered) Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Miami Heat rookie Bam Adebayo showed off some ball handling skills during the NBA’s summer league, but was he impressive enough to earn playing time?

The Miami Heat surprised a lot of people when they selected Bam Adebayo with the 14th pick in June’s NBA Draft. After summer league, and with training camp beginning next week, it’s Adebayo that is surprising the Heat.

According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the Heat were impressed by the former Kentucky center during the draft process because of his blend of size and quickness, as well as his reputation for being a hard worker.

Chet Kammerer, the Heat’s vice president of player personnel, told Jackson that Adebayo has the ability to defend multiple positions at the NBA level down the road–a key trait for centers in today’s NBA.

That was mostly expected. What shocked them was that, during summer league, Adebayo flashed the ability to handle the ball. The Heat decided to give him the freedom to do so, and Adebayo regularly grabbed rebounds and took it upon himself to push the ball in transition.

It was also noted that during the draft process, Adebayo made 60 out of 100 3-pointers from the corner.

Together, all of this paints an exciting picture. The best centers in today’s league can not only protect and finish at the rim, but also hit open 3-pointers and switch defensively onto multiple positions. Adebayo, with his blend of strength, foot speed, and apparent ball skills, could develop into that sort of player for the Heat down the road.

Will he get much playing time in his rookie season? That’s still up in the air. Adebayo could see minutes as the backup center, particularly if Kelly Olynyk plays some power forward. Even then , Miami’s frontcourt is crowded, with Olynyk, Hassan Whiteside, James Johnson, Udonis Haslem, and Justise Winslow being able to play some small-ball 4.

Next: 5 questions the Heat need to answer in training camp

The Heat will try to get Adebayo minutes for developmental purposes, but it doesn’t seem as though he’ll play a major factor this season. Rather, the Heat are grooming him to be a major factor in the seasons to come.

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