Bam Adebayo Would Likely Take On A Chris Bosh Role If Miami Heat Sign Damian Lillard

Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo may have some pressure off his shoulders if superstar Damian Lillard arrives.

Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. 

Those are the names in the potential Miami Heat Big Three if Lillard gets traded from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Miami saw this previously with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh from 2010-14. Lillard would aid the Adebayo-Butler tandem that largely carried the Heat in the playoffs, creating arguably the best trio in the league. Could this mean Adebayo would have a position similar to Bosh in this new rendition? Bosh was a perennial All-Star before becoming the Heat's third wheel alongside James and Wade. 

Last season Adebayo had a career year as the team’s lone All-Star, averaging 20.4 points and 9.2 rebounds on 54 percent shooting. However, his postseason inconsistency continued, and the lack of aggressive play left Butler stranded on some nights. When Butler was no longer playing at superstar levels, Adebayo unfortunately couldn’t dominate in his absence. He was solid in the Finals with a few 20-point double doubles but it’s clear the team needs another consistent scorer.

Lillard’s high-level scoring would give Miami another option beside Butler, especially if he has lackluster performances like in the Finals. Lillard’s offensive production alleviates pressure for many, including Adebayo. 

This way, he can focus on defending and rebounding, which he’s excelled at the previous seasons. Like Bosh, he would be tasked with collecting boards and contesting with bigger opponents. This way, the expectations won’t be so large for his offensive production.

However, this is all contingent on Lillard arriving in Miami, which still has a long way to go.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.