Bam Adebayo Says Heat Offseason Roster Moves a 'Good Shake Up' Before 2025-26 Campaign
Bam Adebayo says he's happy with the Miami Heat's offseason roster changes after a turbulent 2024-25 season was followed by a first-round exit from the playoffs last spring.
"It’s a very good shake up for our team and now there’s a different dynamic to it," Adebayo told reporters on Saturday, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
In addition to re-signing Davion Mitchell on a two-year, $24 million deal in order to back up Tyler Herro, the Heat brought in a new starting shooting guard by acquiring Norman Powell through a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Heat also parted ways with Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson through the Powell trade, while sending out Duncan Robinson in a separate sign-and-trade deal that brought depth forward Simone Fontecchio to Miami.
“I feel like Norman is one of those guys that floats under the radar,” Adebayo said, per Chiang. “But as you saw this year, he’s really shown that he can be an All-Star caliber player. You’ve seen what he’s done and you’ve seen him grow in this league. And, obviously, he wants to take the next challenge. Obviously, the next challenge is being with the Miami Heat. So I’m happy to have him.”
Adebayo added that he would miss both Robinson, who he described as having a "special" connection with the team, and Love, a leader he said "could speak to somebody from a championship level," per Chiang.
The Heat are now set to head into next season with Herro and Powell starting in the backcourt, while Adebayo joins Andrew Wiggins and Kel'el Ware in rounding out the starting lineup.
Powell said earlier this summer that he was hoping this lineup would give him more of a chance to be a "focal point" for his team's offense.
"I think for me, it was all about the opportunity," Powell said in July, per ClutchPoints' Zachary Weinberger. "And this year, having the full opportunity and chance to really showcase my game and what I can fully do when given the opportunity, and having a bigger leash to go out there and make mistakes and learn and go out there and be a focal point for a team.”
Miami will meanwhile hope that changing the starting lineup can lead to a smoother beginning to the 2025-26 campaign.
Jimmy Butler was suspended multiple times in the months leading up to his trade to the Golden State Warriors last season, a situation ESPN's Shams Charania reported last January was serving as a "distraction" to the rest of the team.
Adebayo, who is playing in his last season before the three-year, $166 million extension he signed last July kicks in, will be tasked with leading the adjusted roster on a strong start this fall.
