Bold Claim Made About Adebayo Replacing Butler as Miami Heat's No. 1

Bam Adebayo has returned from Paris with an Olympic gold medal around his neck. That has left some wondering whether he will be the main man for the Miami Heat come the 2024-25 season.

The Heat have made two trips to the NBA finals with Jimmy Butler as their No. 1 option. The problem is that his future in South Beach remains clouded in doubt.

There were talks of him wanting a contract extension earlier this summer, which the Heat did not seem keen to hand him. That led to rumors of a potential trade but fortunately, he has stayed put in Miami. For the time being at least.

Butler could now be looking to have an impressive 2024-25 season before testing the market next summer.

Butler as the Heat's No. 1 option is tried-and-tested. On the other hand, going with Adebayo might be the safer route considering Playoff Jimmy's contract situation and injury history.

Adebayo's long-term future lies with the Heat. Butler's might not. But one NBA scout seems to believe that the former might not even want to be the No. 1 option for Erik Spoelstra's side.

An NBA scout told Miami Heat On SI's Anthony Pasciolla : "I think Bam would rather be a Swiss Army knife. I don't know if Bam wants to do that [be the No. 1 option].

"I think he'd be happy with 18, 12, and 6 type of numbers. You can see it sometimes, it's not that he can't be the man, it's I don't need to be the man."

Adebayo has developed into a superstar over his time in Miami, having been selected 14th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.

He signed a three-year contract extension worth $166 million this summer, that will see him through the 2028-29 season.

Can he be the face of a Championship contender? That is something we do not know the answer to.

Related: 3-Time Champion Criticises LeBron James' Miami Heat Decision