According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Heat Agree to sign Adebayo to a three-year, $166 million maximum
While Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler has been the subject of NBA trade rumors this offseason, the team made a decisive move on Wednesday to secure another key player. While he doesn’t intend to get a deal done this summer, Bam Adebayo completed one, helping to solidify their plans going forward.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Heat plan to sign Adebayo to a three-year, $166 million maximum contract extension. He still had two years remaining on his five-year, $163 million extension signed in 2020, but Miami acted proactively to ensure he’s signed through the 2028-29 season.
This move aligns with a report by Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald in May, indicating the Heat’s intention to offer Adebayo a “lucrative” extension despite the remaining years on his contract. Although Adebayo could have been eligible for a four-year, $245 million supermax contract if selected to an All-NBA team, this agreement is a significant commitment.
Adebayo averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists this season, earning his third career All-Star selection. After four consecutive second-team selections, he also received his first NBA All-Defensive first-team honor, solidifying his resume as one of the league’s most impactful defenders.
Butler is under contract for $48.8 million in 2024-25 and holds a player option for $52.4 million in 2025-26. He will be 35 at the time of needing a new contract. Despite Butler’s uncertainty, the Heat can feel more secure after Wednesday’s agreement with Adebayo. He is the type of player around whom Miami can continue to build its future.
Adebayo’s extension has strengthened the Heat’s base, but Butler’s future is still unknown. Pat Riley, the team’s owner, stirred up some controversy earlier in the offseason when he said there was no rush to sign the 34-year-old to a deal this summer.
Riley stated in May, “We have not discussed that internally right now.” “We need to consider when to make that kind of commitment. In actuality, we are exempt from doing it until 2025. However, we’ll see. We haven’t decided on it and haven’t really had a serious conversation about it.
If the Butler era does not survive for many more seasons, the Heat will at least have the opportunity to rearrange the squad and center it around Adebayo.
