Steve Kerr, Joe Lacob, Warriors
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Head coach Steve Kerr (L) and governor Joe Lacob of the Golden State Warriors look on during a game between the Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs.
The Golden State Warriors could reportedly make a run for Miami Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
According to The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami, the Warriors have long “admired” Adebayo, a five-time All-Defensive selection, and view him as a perfect piece in their system and culture.
“He’s 28, the perfect age for a win-now-and-later acquisition, and the Warriors have admired him for a while,” Kawakami wrote of Golden State’s interest in Adebayo.
“Conclusion: This is only live if the Heat really love [Jonathan] Kuminga, and they didn’t act like that last summer. (This also would be a reason to cross off Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Herro, even if Miami is looking to shed money.)”
Further to Kawakami’s point, the Heat were named among the teams who could make a run at Jonathan Kuminga during his restricted free agency last summer. However, only the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings reportedly made serious offers to Golden State in a potential deal for the fifth-year Congolese forward.
Bam Adebayo’s Movable Contract
Adebayo is in the last year of his rookie max extension contract, earning $37 million in the 2025-26 season. However, the defensive specialist will see a massive increase to his salary starting from the 2026-27 season, when he enters the first year of his three-year, $161 million extension with the Heat.
As such, it would be more practical for the Warriors to pursue Adebayo before his extension kicks in, as they’d be able to build a package around Kuminga, Moses Moody and/or Buddy Hield along with draft compensation.
Kuminga, who signed a two-year, $46.8 million extension to stay with the Warriors last offseason, won’t become trade-eligible until January 15, 2026. As such, Golden State is unlikely to explore any significant deals before Kuminga can be used as a trade chip.
Steve Kerr, a Fan of Bam Adebayo
Steve Kerr’s history of coaching Adebayo could also be a factor in a potential Warriors union. Kerr was Assistant Coach of Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and then Head Coach at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Adebayo was a member of both teams.
It was reportedly Kerr’s idea to have Adebayo push the pace at both Olympic Games events, as the Warriors coach was impressed by the Heat star’s underrated playmaking ability. Kerr has often spoken glowingly of Adebayo’s defensive instincts.
“He is absolutely elite and it was really fun coaching him in the Olympics,” Kerr said of coaching Adebayo at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“Just a great guy, great teammate. The tandem of Draymond and Bam was really something to watch. Not just defensively. They are pretty special in terms of their ability to push the ball in transition, kind of that play at point-center role. Very unique players.”
Adebayo is averaging 19.9 points and a career-high 2.0 made threes per game this season. His newfound ability to make threes at a decent clip could make him all the more attractive to the Warriors. The Heat (7-5) had their three-game winning streak snapped by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.