With NBA owners losing money with the coronavirus outbreak, Brian Windhorst says the Miami Heat may have to hold off on Bam Adebayo’s extension.
The coronavirus outbreak may have changed the Miami Heat’s future forever, if not just the immediate and upcoming seasons. With the NBA having to shift gears to Orlando and cutting out attendance and the related profit, owners have taken a hit right where it hurts.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Monday about the NBA’s bleak financial outlook. For the Miami Heat, owner Micky Arson is no exception from the effects of coronavirus:
"“Miami Heat owner Micky Arson has lost $2.5 billion in net worth since March, after his Carnival Cruise Lines Corp. was shuttered. Though the Arson family has a completely different debt portfolio than recent buyers, they bought the team in 1987 for $32.5 million. In 2015, Arson liquidated $433 million in Carnival stock.”"
It’s put the future for some players and their salaries in question, and Miami’s Bam Adebayo is no exception. He and the Heat were expected to entertain extension talks as soon as the upcoming offseason, and now Windhorst says those conversations may be on hold, for now:
"“While they expect to save cap room to chase free-agent stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021 and might not extend young All-Star Bam Adebayo this year to help facilitate that plan, their spending for next year could impacted by these financial factors.”"
He doesn’t flat out say the Heat are going to hold off on the extension, but he still felt the need to slip in they “might not,” which certainly raises concern.
Adebayo’s rise to All-Star has largely been to credit for the Heat’s success this season. He’s proven a legitimate Robin to Butler’s Batman. His game is felt on both ends of the floor, behind averages of 16.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals.
Not signing him to an extension only to make a shot (and only a shot) at the likes of Antetokounmpo and other stars doesn’t bode well for an already uncertain outlook for the NBA.
Does this seem like a Pat Riley move? Yes and no. Miami’s team president is often known for making moves that seemingly anticipate another, while most often always getting his guy.
If Riley were to not sign Adebayo to an extension, you can believe there would be a conversation with the forward before then. The 23-year old has been raised into this Heat culture, and if he’s bought in then he will buy into any plan that has championship potential.
The Miami Heat and Bam Adebayo are no doubt angling to continue their partnership longterm. But as the landscape for sports changes, they’ll have to dodge and adapt to the problems that have generated. Still, if you’re going to trust any one guy to get it done, it’s Pat Riley.