The Miami Heat entered the 2025-26 NBA season with hopes of returning to true contender status, but as January unfolds, their trajectory has raised serious questions about whether Bam Adebayo should remain the cornerstone of the franchise.
NBA Rumors: Should The Heat Trade Bam Adebayo?
While the Heat have recently said that they have no intentions of trading the three-time All-Star, a heel turn would not be surprising if the team continues the rough stretch they’re currently enduring.
Here are three reasons why the Miami Heat should consider trading Bam Adebayo before the upcoming deadline:
1. Miami is Headed for Another Play-In Season
Through early January of the 2025-26 campaign, the Heat are hovering around a fringe playoff spot with a 20-19 record. While this keeps them in contention, technically, it also fails to show signs of progress. Miami has finished within the 7-10 range in the Eastern Conference in each of the past three seasons, making then a mainstay in the Play-In Tournament. They made their surprise run to the NBA Finals in 2023 (with a far different roster), but have been bounced in the first round in each of the past two campaigns.
At this juncture in the season, Miami’s struggles to separate themselves from the Eastern bubble suggest that the team might be better suited to recalibrate rather than repeat another middling run.
2. Emergence of Kel’el Ware Could Make Adebayo Expendable
One of the most intriguing developments for Miami this season has been the rise of young big man Kel’el Ware. Ware has shown flashes of high-level production, averaging double-double numbers through 39 games and providing energetic play on both ends of the floor.
His growth reduces the urgency of building around Adebayo as the primary frontcourt presence and presents Miami with a valuable asset that could either complement a retooled core or be leveraged in a trade package. Whether used as a cornerstone in a new foundational group or included in a significant deal, Ware’s emergence creates flexibility that was not there with Adebayo as the unquestioned focal point.
3. Adebayo Owed Nearly $50M Next Season
Cap considerations are often the deciding factor in major franchise shifts, and Bam Adebayo’s contract is a perfect example. Adebayo is scheduled to earn over $37 million in 2025-26, a figure that will rise to nearly $50 million next season due to his max extension. That kind of financial commitment severely limits Miami’s ability to add complementary talent around him.
In a league where flexibility typically dictates competitive advantage, paying nearly $50 million for a player who is a second option (at best) on a championship team is a mistake. By trading Adebayo, the Heat would gain not only valuable assets in return, but also the opportunity to reshape their salary structure in a way that allows them to chase impact players and build a more balanced roster.
