AUCH Roundtable: Talking the Miami Heat’s All-Star weekend presence

Tristan Tucker (@TristanHeatNBA)

Both Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo deserve to be Eastern Conference All-Stars. However, I think Adebayo will be snubbed.

Assuming that Kemba Walker, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pascal Siakam, Butler, Bradley Beal, and Trae Young are all locks, that leaves 5 spots between Kyrie Irving, Adebayo, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Malcolm Brogdon, Ben Simmons, Nikola Vucevic, Khris Middleton, Domantas Sabonis, and Zach LaVine.

Unfortunately, I do not like those odds, no matter how deserving.

Another category Adebayo should be included in is the Skills Challenge as a big, and honestly, if he is snubbed from the All-Star game there is no reason why he should not get to play here. It would give him a chance to show off his all-around game and the NBA has no reason not to grant this, as he is one of the leading passing big men.

Duncan Robinson should, and will, be in the 3-point shooting competition. While nothing has been confirmed yet, he has shot 45% from deep on more than seven of such attempts per game.

Derrick Jones Jr. is another one of those obvious choices, but this time for the dunk contest. I do not really think an explanation is necessary.

Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn should both be included in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend, both playing for the USA team. I think both will make it as they have been consistently in the top five of the rookie ladder.