A new deal recently signed by Nigerian-born fast-rising basketball starlet, Bam Adebayo at Miami Heat of America has left a tight spot in the squad for any possible additions this off-season, but four Nigerian-born lads have been named in permutations of trade deals with the team.
Megasportsarena.com gathered that the players of Nigerian descent being linked with possible moves to join Adebayo at The Heat are Giannis Adetokunbo (Antetokounmpo), Victor Oladipo and Precious Achiuwa, while his current teammate, Andre Iguodala could be on his way out.
Iguodala is already considered one of the veterans that are approaching the twilight zone in a well-stocked career, which does not give the Nigerian-born former Golden State Warriors icon much of a leverage heading into the new season, but Milwaukee Bucks’ in-form Antetokounmpo is hot on the Cards of possibilities for a deal in Miami.
Same goes for Indiana Pacers’ injury-prone Oladipo and new draft lad, Achiuwa, who have both gained a mention in an analysis by two basketball gurus, Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang, as they periscope how The Heat can acquire another All-Star player in the next year.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) gurus are looking at all options available to The Heat, after Adebayo’s max contract extension left the team without the cap space to sign a renowned free agent next summer.
The experts stated in a joint-report: “Is it possible to add not only one more All-Star player — but two — before the 2021-22 season? Spoiler alert: It is, but it would require fortuitous timing, two stars wanting to do it, willingness of other teams to cooperate and acceptance of what could be a luxury tax bill for years to come. And it would need to be done through trades.
“What about the Heat getting Giannis Antetokounmpo and either potential 2021 unrestricted free agents Victor Oladipo or Jrue Holiday or perhaps even De’Aaron Fox or Donovan Mitchell if either of those two players unexpectedly becomes unhappy eventually after signing max extensions last week?
“It’s absolutely possible, though Miami would need other teams to cooperate, which is the unknown variable. Cashing the ultimate lottery ticket — procuring both Antetokounmpo and Bradley Beal — would be possible within cap rules but difficult to pull off because the Heat likely wouldn’t have the assets to satisfy both the Bucks and Wizards in separate trades.
“Antetokounmpo would be an unrestricted free agent next summer if he does not sign a max extension with the Milwaukee Bucks by Dec. 21. It’s unclear if he will. Here’s how the Heat could create a team with four All Stars (Jimmy Butler, Adebayo and two new ones):
“Step one: Trade for an All-Star-caliber player in the final year of his contract before this upcoming season’s trade deadline, but try not to relinquish Tyler Herro in the deal because you might need him in a trade for a star free agent next summer.
“If Indiana’s Oladipo (who can be unrestricted in 2021) hypothetically tells the Pacers he won’t be re-signing there next summer, Miami could offer Duncan Robinson and/or Kendrick Nunn, Kelly Olynyk’s expiring contract and another piece before the trade deadline.
“If Miami could acquire Oladipo or another star before this upcoming season’s trade deadline, Miami would preserve that player’s Bird Rights next offseason and could exceed the cap to re-sign him. It’s difficult to see a path to acquire Holiday — and certainly not Beal — without relinquishing Herro.
“Step two: If Antetokounmpo doesn’t sign a max extension with Milwaukee before the Dec. 21 deadline, convince him to sign here next offseason and then orchestrate that move with a sign-and-trade with Milwaukee, which likely would demand Herro in exchange for taking on $25 million plus in cap-facilitating contracts (perhaps Andre Iguodala, Meyers Leonard) and helping the Heat build a super team.
“The Heat could counter by instead offering a future first-round pick and to facilitate a Bucks sign-and-trade for restricted free agents Nunn or Robinson if either one of those players is on the Heat at that point.
“Teams can trade restricted and unrestricted free agents as part of sign-and-trades in the same deal as long as the restricted free agent hasn’t signed an offer sheet with the team acquiring the player, NBA cap expert Larry Coon said, via email.
“But I’m not sure why Milwaukee would agree to taking on that much money from the Heat in exchange for a player (Nunn or Robinson) that it could sign to an offer sheet in restricted free agency next summer, anyway. The Bucks could tell the Heat this: ‘If you don’t give us Herro, then forget it. Let Giannis go sign with a team that has cap space.’
“Keep in mind that teams over the salary cap can receive contracts worth no more than 125 percent plus $100,000 compared to what they send out. The dream scenario of acquiring Beal and Antetokounmpo also hypothetically can be achieved, but would need not only both players wanting to come here.
“Beal via trade, Antetokounmpo via sign-and-trade in free agency, but The Wizards and Bucks accepting Heat trade offers. And because Miami cannot clone Herro, it would seem unlikely the Heat would be able to satisfy both teams. One, certainly. But both? The odds are against that.
“A Beal deal likely would require Herro and Robinson or Precious Achiuwa — among other pieces such as Kelly Olynyk to make it work from a cap standpoint — because the Heat wouldn’t be able to offer a future first-rounder until after the 2021 draft, unless OKC agrees to unlock the 2023 pick, which permits Miami to trade its 2025 first-rounder.
“That would leave Miami with few assets to offer Milwaukee in an Antetokounmpo sign-and-trade scenario. So the Beal/Antetokounmpo scenario for the Heat not only requires Giannis wanting to come to Miami, but the Bucks accepting a future first-rounder plus Robinson and/or Nunn or Achiuwa — if Herro is used to acquire Beal.”
