What Heat likely will do now after Bam extension

It would have been so clean and simple, preserving the cap space to sign an All-Star without needing to strike a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks or Indiana Pacers or whatever team might be losing that star to the Heat next summer.

But it also would have run counter to everything the Heat has preached about family, if Miami had been the only team in this abbreviated offseason to give a max contract to a max-worthy player from the 2017 draft class.

So now, with Bam Adebayo on the Heat’s books for at least $28.1 million in 2021-22, adding that third established All-Star will be a bit more difficult, but certainly achievable for salary-cap guru/general manager Andy Elisburg and Heat president Pat Riley.

“Do not get caught up with Miami losing $13 million in cap space in 2021-22 [with Adebayo’s five-year max extension],” ESPN insider and former Nets executive Bobby Marks said. “The front office in Miami is the gold standard of creating room or using other resources [see Jimmy Butler]. No extension would have presented an uncomfortable position for everyone involved.”

Here’s what I see happening now:

If Giannis Antetokounmpo signs a max extension with the Bucks, Washington guard Bradley Beal becomes the No. 1 Heat target if or when he becomes available. The Heat’s interest remains very high, according to a source with direct knowledge.

But it likely would take Tyler Herro, likely either Duncan Robinson or Precious Achiuwa, and a 2025 first-rounder (which can be traded only if OKC is willing to unlock protections on Miami’s 2023 pick) and veteran cap facilitators (such as Kelly Olynyk) to make a competitive offer. And even that might be topped by Denver, Boston or another team.

If Antetokounmpo stays in Milwaukee and Beal either stays with the Wizards or is traded elsewhere, the next most likely option would be Indiana guard Victor Oladipo — but only if he returns to an All-Star level.

In that scenario — and if Oladipo doesn’t get a max deal from Indiana — I would expect the Heat to be able to get him next summer if it wants him. (This is an opinion — not a news report — but an educated opinion.) Though I’m told Oladipo would be perfectly happy staying long-term in Indiana, he also very much likes Miami if things don’t work out with the Pacers.

I don’t envision the Heat pursuing Oladipo before the trade deadline unless it’s clear Miami isn’t getting Beal or Antetokounmpo.

Beyond those three, there are other less likely 2021 possibilities that cannot at all be ruled out — James Harden (there’s nothing to suggest Miami is in the mix), Paul

George if the Clippers underachieve this year, perhaps Jrue Holiday if the Milwaukee experience doesn’t meet his expectations, though the Bucks would need to agree to a sign-and-trade.

And there’s often one star who comes out of nowhere to demand a trade. Even with their max extensions, there’s no telling how happy De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento) or Donovan Mitchell (Utah) or Devin Booker (Phoenix) will be in a year.

And a prominent NBA agent not directly involved said if Antetokounmpo agrees to a max extension, he hears the Bucks would agree to the condition that they would trade him down the road if he wants out.

If Beal or Oladipo isn’t acquired at the trade deadline, so much hinges now on what would need to be relinquished in a sign-andtrade for a 2021 free agent in nine months — either for Antetokounmpo next summer if he opts to leave Milwaukee, or Oladipo or Holiday or someone else.

At that point, Miami could offer Herro and a 2025 first-rounder (if OKC unlocks the pick) and/or a 2027 first-rounder (available to trade beginning next offseason), though I would be surprised if Herro is offered for Oladipo at any point barring a regression from Herro and a big jump from Oladipo.

And here’s where we remind you that the Heat smartly added 2021-22 team options to the contracts of Goran Dragic, Meyers Leonard, Andre Iguodala and Avery Bradley. Any of those players could help facilitate a trade from a cap standpoint next summer. Dragic and Leonard have the right to reject any trade before this season’s trade deadline, but that veto power disappears if their 2021-22 team options are exercised next summer.

Miami also could use 2021 restricted free agents Robinson and Kendrick Nunn in a summer of 2021 sign-and-trade with Milwaukee or Indiana, or another team.

Another reason why the Heat was smart in attaching team options to the Dragic/Iguodala/Leonard/ Bradley deals: Whichever of those players isn’t dealt for a star would help fill out your 2021-22 roster and help overcome for the loss of assets in a trade, though it’s difficult to see the Heat exercising the $15 million Iguodala team option for the purpose of keeping him.

Let’s say Beal (who averaged 30.5 points per game last season) tells the Wizards in February that he wants to be traded and includes the Heat on a list of teams that interest him (which I would fully expect if Beal decides he wants out).

Let’s say Washington accepts Herro; Achiuwa or Robinson; Olynyk’s expiring contract, a 2025 firstrounder and another small cap piece, which would be a legitimate offer if Herro plays well to start this season. The hope, obviously, would be not to need to include Achiuwa or Robinson.

Miami then could build around Butler, Adebayo, Beal, Nunn, Achiuwa or Robinson, and then could exercise the 2021-22 team options on Bradley, Dragic and perhaps Leonard, plus supplement the team with what likely would be a $6 million taxpayer midlevel exception and a minimum contracts. Miami also would have Olynyk’s Bird rights.

That would come with a big tax hit, one that could be possibly be avoided if Dragic opts out of $19 million and instead signs for the $10 million midlevel exception that would be available if Miami goes that route, which would impose a 2021-22 hard cap on the Heat in the $143 million range.

The complication would be if Adebayo is named to one of the three All-NBA teams or is Defensive Player of the Year or MVP this season. Then his five-year deal would jump from $163 million to $196 million, with his first year salary rising to $33.7 million. But Miami could deal with that.

CHATTER

A We hear some Dolphins veteran players were surprised that Brian Flores replaced Tua Tagovailoa with Ryan Fitzpatrick last week and thought it sent a bad message.

One thing that’s hurting Tagovailoa: Dolphins receivers and tight ends get some of the worst separation in the league.

Of all qualifying players, tight end Mike Gesicki and receiver DeVante Parker get only 1.9 yards of separation from the player covering them, on average, which ranks thirdand fourth-worst in the league, per Next Gen Stats. Preston Williams, before his foot injury, was seventh-worst at 2.2. Mack Hollins, Malcolm Perry and the others have struggled at times, but don’t have enough snaps to qualify.

AEven if Clemson has one fewerwin than Miami because of COVID-caused cancellations, the Tigers would still win a tiebreaker with the Hurricanes —and advance to the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game — if the two teams finish with the same number of conference losses. That's because Clemson won the head-tohead meeting. … One UM player conveyed that a bunch of Canes players have had COVID but many have been asymptomatic. Not a single UM student (athlete or non-athlete) who had COVID is in the hospital.

WSVN-Fox 7 hired Green Bay-based sportscaster Josh Moser to replace lead sportscaster Steve Shapiro, who is retiring at the end of the year.

The station bypassed backups Mike DiPasquale and Donovan Campbell for the lead job.

AA