Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Bam! Heat draft PF
Kentucky power forward Bam Adebayo on board.
MIAMI — The Miami Heat turned Thursday’s NBA draft into power ball, selecting rugged Kentucky freshman power forward Bam Adebayo with the No. 14 selection.
“I’m ready to get started,” the rebounding and shot-blocking big man said from Barclays Center in Brooklyn shortly after he was selected. “I’m ready to get in that Heat jersey.”
Adebayo ranked fourth and sixth in the Southeastern Conference in rebounds and blocked shots per game, respectively, averaging 13 points per game. He led Kentucky in blocks per game (1.5) and double-doubles (eight), with five double-doubles over his last 11 games.
The full name of the native of Newark, N.J., is Edrice Femi Adebayo, but he prefers to go by Bam.
“Me and my mom were watching the Flintstones and I guess I turned the coffee table over and said, ‘Bam,’ ” he said shortly after his selection of the nickname that has stuck.
Adebayo, who turns 20 on July 18, was among several big men to work out for the Heat in a draft dominated at the top by perimeter talent.
“I competed,” he said of his workout in front of Heat President Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra at AmericanAirlines Arena. “We all competed and it was fun. They liked my energy. They liked my effort.”
Asked about his selection by Heat television host Jason Jackson, Adebayo told the assembled crowd at the team’s draft party at
“I’m ready to get in that Heat jersey.” Bam Adebayo, Miami’s selection with the 14th pick
AmericanAirlines Arena, “Heat Nation, I’m ready to be there. It’s going to be fun.”
Among those still on the board when the Heat made their selection were Indiana forward OG Anunoby, Duke forward Harry Giles, North Carolina forward Justin Jackson, Wake Forest forward John Collins, Texas center Jarrett Allen, UCLA forward T.J. Leaf, Australian League guard Terrance Ferguson, SMU forward Semi Ojeleye, Creighton center Justin Patton, UCLA center Ike Anigbogu and Cal forward Ivan Rabb.
Selected directly ahead of the Heat were, Gonzaga center Zach Collins at No. 10 by the Portland Trail Blazers, with that selection traded by the Sacramento Kings; Kentucky guard Malik Monk at No. 11 by the Charlotte Hornets; Duke guard Luke Kennard, at No. 12 by the Detroit Pistons; and Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell at No. 14 by the Utah Jazz, who traded for that selection with the Denver Nuggets.
The Heat now have the rights to Adebayo for up to four seasons, based on team-option decisions, with a 2017-18 salary of $2.5 million.
With limited resources, the Heat were not able to jump into an active trade market that included the Chicago Bulls dealing forward Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves. That deal came in the wake of former Heat guard Dwyane Wade opting into his $23.8 million salary for the Bulls in 2017-18.
Thursday was particularly significant for the Heat because they lacked a first-round pick last year, with that selection going to the Philadelphia 76ers, to complete the 2010 signand-trade agreement for LeBron James, and also likely will be without a 2018 first-round pick, with that selection due to the Phoenix Suns unless it is among the first seven, as the first of two first rounders due from the 2015 acquisition of Goran Dragic.
Of the Heat’s previous first-round picks, only Justise Winslow, the No. 10 selection in 2015, remains on the roster. Thursday marked only the third trip to the lottery for the Heat since the 2003 selection of Dwyane Wade, with Michael Beasley taken at No. 2 in 2008.
How Adebayo fits into the Heat roster likely will be a product of how team approaches free agency, with it now more likely that backup center Willie Reed, an impending free agent, does not return. Among others in the Heat power rotation who are impending free agents are James Johnson, who finished the season as the Heat’s starting power forward, and Luke Babbitt, who started at power forward during most of the Heat’s 30-11 run over the second half of a season that ended at 41-41 and resulted in Thursday’s lottery seed.