ASK IRA: Will the price of Adebayo still provide a Heat payoff?

Q: Next season Bam Adebayo will begin the exact same three-year, $160 million extension that Luka Doncic received from the Lakers. Isn’t this another major misstep by the Heat’s front office to pay a player (who you’ve said is not Grade A or A+) the same as a league superstar? – Joey, Miami.

A: Such is the issue with the NBA having a maximum salary and no set guidelines for what is required for such a number. This has long been a flaw of the NBA’s salary structure. So, yes, next season Bam Adebayo will earn the same salary as Luka Doncic (but also the same salary as De’Aaron Fox). But also consider that all three also will earn less than Jimmy Butler or Paul George. The NBA has long been a case of the league’s economic climate when a contract comes due. The problem is that the length and full guarantee of such deals do not allow for course correction. So once signed, productivity has no impact for the duration of the deal. Yes, at the moment, Bam Adebayo holds one of the 20 largest salaries in the league for next season. But with the way the league works, he could well be out of the top 30 by the final season of that contract.

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Q: I think Pat Riley gets a star without trading Kel’el Ware. Why would you trade a player that may be top three at his position in one to two seasons. Ware is only 22 years old.  – Chris.

A: Top three? Yes, there certainly is promise there. But maybe first make an All-Star Game? Followers of this team have to understand that this team lives in the moment. Look, the Heat already said no with Ware when it came to Kevin Durant.  But at a certain point, like a Giannis Antetokounmpo point, you have to push the chips to the middle of the table.

Q: Since we’re going here, how much is too much? As in trade assets. What’s interesting here is; During the Jimmy Butler days, the Heat were reluctant to part with any of our draft picks to get some reinforcements.  Now we told the Bucks to take whatever you want? And they will. Their goal is to leave us with nothing. Didn’t the Bucks go this route with a Damian Lillard and Myles Turner trades? And now we will replenish their coffers to their delight? What’s the limit, to only leave us with our G League team? – Joe. 

A: The difference is you are talking about a player who remains one of the top five in the NBA. If you want to equate this to another trade, I would point to what the Clippers gave Oklahoma City for Paul George. But as good as Paul George was then, he was not quite what Giannis Antetokounmpo remains now. And even with what the Heat might have to give up in the moment, they still would have ample talent to balance out the roster.