A new era of Miami Heat basketball is beckoning, and center Bam Adebayo is looking forward to it.
After the legendary Dwyane Wade retired, team president Pat Riley wasted no time remaking the Heat roster, trading up-and-coming wing Josh Richardson to the Philadelphia 76ers for four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler and sending starting center Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Heat are also currently engaged in trade talks for Chris Paul and Bradley Beal, although nothing is close to being imminent for now.
This overhaul of the team’s roster necessitates that young players such as Adebayo step up and take on greater responsibility.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges of becoming a face of the Heat,” said Adebayo. “But it also takes time and patience. So I’m willing to take on that challenge.”
Adebayo was the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and is expected to be the starting center for the Heat in the 2019-20 season. This past season, he posted averages of 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks in 23.3 minutes per game while shooting 57.6 percent from the field.
