The Miami Heat have been focused on acquiring talent through trades, largely because of their current salary-cap woes.
However, a new report indicates that if the Heat do end up making any future deals, two of their younger players, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, will not be included in any trade packages.
Sean Deveney of Heavy.com noted how even before Herro’s scoring outburst on Monday night, the rookie and third-year man Adebayo were non-starters in any discussions about a possible deal.
“They’ve been firm on him and Adebayo being untouchable,” one GM told Heavy.com before Herro’s explosive night.
That big evening against Atlanta began with Herro connecting for the Heat’s first 14 points and saw him score 23 points by the time the contest had ended. Herro was 5-for-7 on 3-pointers and 9-for-14 overall.
While Herro has yet to play in a regular season NBA game, Adebayo has put in two years for the Heat and officially enters this season as the team’s starting center. He took over that starting role during the last six weeks of last season, with Hassan Whiteside subsequently being dealt to Portland.
The two players’ youth is one of the chief reasons that the Heat are seeking to hold onto the duo. Herro is only 19 years old, but has already made himself stand out in a variety of ways. From his confidence, his work ethic, and most notably, his shooting ability, Herro could be a steal as the 13th overall pick in last June’s draft.
Adebayo is only 22 years old, but in his two seasons has averaged 8.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Those numbers are expected to move upward now that he’ll be a regular presence in the Heat’s starting lineup.
Both players already shared the bond of having played collegiately at the University of Kentucky. Their current untouchable statuses now puts them in inviting positions for the future.
