The Miami Heat consistently draw attention as the trade deadline nears. They have managed to keep themselves competitive, starting the season with a 19-15 record, tied for sixth in the East. Big man Bam Adebayo is the closest thing the Heat have to a star (and some believe he is that and more).
While the Heat would love to land a superstar — Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is the dream target — the organization reportedly holds Adebayo as its most valuable asset and the foundation of its current strategy.
NBA Insider Claims the Miami Heat Don’t Plan To Deal Adebayo
Adebayo was the 14th overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft out of Kentucky and has proven to be a fantastic selection. Adebayo is having another solid year, putting up 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He is having a poor shooting season (46.2% from the field), but his career numbers (53.3%) suggest that those numbers should improve.
Much like Adebayo’s emergence as a key player, the Heat may have secured another important contributor in Kel’el Ware, selected 15th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Ware has quickly shown skill as a rim protector and rebounder, providing valuable energy and interior defense.
His ability to finish around the basket and run the floor has given the Heat’s offense a new dimension, while coaches are counting on him to develop further alongside the team’s veterans.
Ware averages 12.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in only 24.9 minutes per game while shooting an efficient 55.6%, highlighting his significant impact in limited playing time.
The challenge for the Heat is to maximize Ware’s shot-blocking, rebounding, and scoring presence while integrating him effectively with the team’s veteran star.
“I do watch the Heat sometimes trying to figure out this Bam-Ware fit,” NBA Insider Zach Lowe said. “I think Ware has a chance to be very good. Now he’s been in the absolute perfect developmental and is he going to continue on this path? No one is quite certain about that.”
The Miami Heat have told teams ‘HELL NO’ when they ask to include Bam in trades per @ZachLowe_NBA 👀
“Would they ever include Bam in a package to clear their books and pivot to a younger direction? Other teams I know have for sure asked about Bam and have been told ‘Hell no’. As… pic.twitter.com/BOdqoLGMZc
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) January 2, 2026
Lowe has questioned whether the Heat would ever consider dealing their cornerstone, Adebayo, to get the star return they’ve long sought.
“Would they ever put Bam in a package?” Lowe asked. “Would they ever just do it to sort of clarify their books, clarify their roster and sort of pivot to a younger direction?”
Adebayo has a $161,352,000 contract through 2028-2029, but Lowe doubts the Heat will trade him.
“I’ve never thought they would because having written a gigantic profile of Bam, I know what he is to that franchise,” Lowe explained. “He is the standard-bearer, he is the culture-bearer. I don’t think there’s one part of them that wants to do it.”
That hasn’t stopped other teams from making a run at Adebayo.
“Other teams I know have for sure asked about Bam and have been told ‘Hell no’ and the wild card you also have to consider as they sniff around at Giannis and other star players, all of those star players want to play with Bam.”
Lowe added that he does “think the Heat will more than sniff around with Giannis situation.”
The Heat are always a team to watch when a player like Antetokounmpo becomes available. We still aren’t sure how ‘available’ he is. If the Heat make a run at the Greek Freak, it doesn’t sound like Adebayo will be on the table.
The NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 5, 3 p.m. ET.
