The Miami Heat are known around the NBA for being an organization that can identify young talent.
In fact, according to a recent report, one veteran scout thinks that if the 2017 NBA Draft were redone, Heat big man Bam Adebayo would go in the top five rather than fall to the No. 14 overall pick.
“If that draft were held now, the veteran scout said he believes Adebayo would go fourth or fifth instead of 14th, behind only Jayson Tatum (selected third), Donovan Mitchell (13th) and De’Aaron Fox (the fifth pick that year who’s averaging 20.4 points per game for Sacramento) and possibly Lonzo Ball,” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wrote.
This season, Adebayo was named to his first All-Star Game. He has been recognized as one of the top young big men in the NBA.
So far this season, the University of Kentucky product is averaging 16.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
The scary thing for opposing teams is that Adebayo has likely just begun to scratch his surface when it comes to his potential. He certainly has the finesse and athleticism to develop an outside shot, but has yet to make that a consistent aspect of his game.
Surely, he will look to integrate that into his game in the coming years.
Going forward, it seems quite likely that Adebayo will continue to outshine the other members of his draft class.
