Bam Adebayo is the future of the Miami Heat. Every NBA fan knows that.
Bam’s rapid rise to an All-Star has been nothing short of phenomenal. In just his third year in the league, Bam was named to his first All-Star game alongside teammate, Jimmy Butler.
In his fourth year, he managed to get even better, improving his offensive output while still providing the same All-NBA caliber defense that he always has.
However, Adebayo still has not quite made the leap to becoming one of the league’s superstars. While some of that has to do with his mentality, a lot of it also has to do with the roster around him.
The Heat do not have a point guard, in the traditional sense. All of their lead guards are players who look to score first and set up their teammates second.
Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn are both players who want to put the ball in the cup above all else. If the Heat managed to acquire a pass first kind of point guard, then I think Bam Adebayo would truly be unleashed.
With that being said, here are three point guards that could help Bam Adebayo make the leap from All-Star to the face of the franchise.
Miami Heat: 3 Point Guards To Unleash Bam Adebayo: Lonzo Ball
This first guy has been a guy mentioned here before.
1. Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball would be a perfect fit with Bam. The fourth year point guard has steadily improved every season just like Adebayo and has become a real threat from deep in 2020-21.
Not only is he an incredible passer with amazing court vision, but his scoring totals have gone up every year and he is a good perimeter defender. The most important trait Lonzo possesses is his passing.
He has shown he can make even the most difficult passes seem easy. From outlet passes to an open shooter to half court lobs, Lonzo can do it all.
Adebayo’s insane athleticism will pair perfectly with Ball’s passing accuracy and they could torment opposing defenses on the pick and roll. Ball averages about 6.5 assists for his career, which will definitely help unlock Bam’s offensive game.
Ball has also become a deadly threat from deep. He is now converting 38 percent of his threes on about eight attempts per game.
Adding all that extra spacing to a backcourt that already includes Duncan Robinson will open up the lane for Bam to drive more, making defenses pay with his mid range jumper or by attacking the rim. Ball averaged about 14 points per game this season and his points per game have improved every year since his sophomore season.
There is little reason to believe that trend will stop and especially with a center like Bam who can dish the ball out to perimeter players as well.
Miami Heat: 3 Point Guards To Unleash Bam Adebayo: Kyle Lowry
This veteran has also seen his named tossed around quite a bit too.
2. Kyle Lowry
At this point everyone and their mother knows about Kyle Lowry being linked to the Heat. In fact, it seems like just a matter of time before the former All-Star makes his way to South Beach.
Lowry could unlock Bam in a way younger point guards never could. Not only does he average about seven assists per game, but his championship experience and veteran leadership could also help Adebayo get over his mental hurdles.
Bam is not aggressive enough during games and Lowry being in his ear telling him to attack should be exactly the push he needs to take the next step offensively. After seeing what Chris Paul did for Deandre Ayton, I’m more convinced than ever that a player like Lowry is exactly what Adebayo needs.
Obviously. Lowry isn’t the passer that the Point God is but I think that Adebayo’s skill set and athleticism will mesh perfectly with Lowry’s. Also obvious, Lowry is not on the same timeline as Bam (Lowry is 34, Bam is 23) but I think that with 2 years of both Lowry and Jimmy in his ear, Bam’s passiveness should be a thing of the past and he will be ready to truly take the keys to the franchise from Butler.
Just like Lonzo, Lowry is an above average defender which will take some of the defensive load off of Bam’s shoulder’s. The should mean that he will have more energy to exert on the offensive end.
Miami Heat: 3 Point Guards To Unleash Bam Adebayo: Malcolm Brogdon
The last guy is nothing fancy, but he’s a worker and always consistently performing and competing.
3. Malcolm Brogdon
Malcolm Brogdon is coming off of the best season of his career. He averaged over 20 points per game for the first time in his career and averaged just under six assists per game.
His first season in Indiana, he averaged seven assists per game while showing he can excel at setting up teammates, which is exactly what Bam needs. Brogdon is the rare type of player who can simultaneously score and assist at the same time, which would take the pressure off of Bam and allow his game to open up more.
Brogdon is an exceptional three point shooter, shooting about 39 percent in his career and was part of the 50/40/90 club during his last year in Milwaukee. If Brogdon can recapture that form, his efficiency from range could be the determining factor in opening up the paint and letting Bam feast inside the paint.
Brogdon is the epitome of a player who can do everything on the offensive end. He can shoot from range, hit a midrange jumper, and finish at the rim.
He shot about 50 percent efficiency on his twos and 39 percent from three during the 2020-21 season. Not only is he excellent offensively, but he is a pesky and persistent defender who will make life difficult for the opposing team’s guard set.
At 6’5″, his size will also help him defend bigger players, meaning Bam will not have to play as much help defense. That also means that he won’t be away from his matchup as much.
As stated earlier, Bam Adebayo is the future face of the Heat franchise. To really step into the role, he is going to need a point guard who knows how to take advantage of Adebayo’s physical gifts and makes setting him up to score a priority.
This offseason will be important for Bam’s future and it is imperative that the front office makes the right decision.