As usual, the Miami Heat find themselves at the front and center of NBA trade rumors. With the situation in Brooklyn devolving, the team’s top trade target is Kevin Durant, who requested a change of scenery earlier this month.
While Miami has yet to make a deal for the 2x Finals MVP, all the noise has not gone unheard for those currently on the roster.
In a chat with the Sun Sentinel, Bam Adebayo was the latest to speak on the ongoing KD sweepstakes.
“It is what it is, control what you can control,” said Adebayo, who has been viewed as a lynchpin to a possible deal for Durant. “Obviously it’s an opportunity for something, but in my opinion, control what you can control. I can’t control that. So do what I’ve been doing. I get up early. I work out. Having fun with these kids. And I’m going to go home and go to sleep.”
Heat’s Bam Adebayo on trade speculation, "I can’t control that." https://t.co/EvBufCds6L "It is what it is, control what you can control. Obviously it's an opportunity for something, but in my opinion, control what you can control," center says at youth clinic.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 21, 2022
So far, the Heat have experienced more loss than gain this summer. They lost P.J. Tucker to the Sixers and have yet to replace him.
Still, Bam feels that it’s still far too early to count out his squad.
“They’re always counting us out,” Adebayo said. “We The Kennel for a reason, the underdog. That’s our chip. You can believe what you want, you can say what you want.”
The Heat made a run to the Conference Finals before losing to the Celtics. It came just two years after making the NBA Finals.
In this upcoming campaign, Miami will be facing brand new challenges as they look to capture their first title since 2013. With or without Durant, they should be competitive from start to finish.
With KD especially, however, they would be virtually unstoppable — which is why Pat Riley is doing all he can do to strike a deal before it’s too late.
