Adebayo bypasses extension with greater possibilities. And how 2-way rule affects Heat

Given a chance to assure close to another $100 million in future income, Heat center Bam Adebayo opted this week to keep alive the hope of earning well over twice that in his next contract.

In advance of Monday night’s extension deadline, Adebayo bypassed a two-year, $97 million deal that would have run through 2027-28 and instead decided to wait to see if he becomes eligible for a far more lucrative four-year, $245 million extension if he meets the NBA’s “supermax” contract qualifications.

Monday was the final day that NBA players on the final year of a first-round rookie scale contract and extension-eligible veterans with two years left on their deals could sign a contract extension.

Adebayo falls into that category as a player entering his seventh NBA season with two future seasons left on his current deal, beyond this season. He’s under contract for $32.6 million this season, $34.8 million next season and $37.1 million in 2025-26.

Now the question becomes whether Adebayo will qualify for the supermax extension. For a veteran player to qualify for such an extension, he must be entering his eighth or ninth season in the NBA (Adebayo will be entering his eighth in 2024-25) and have either:

1). Been named to the All-NBA team (first, second or third) in either the season immediately before signing the extension, or two of the three previous seasons.

.2). Been named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in either the season immediately before signing the extension, or two of the three previous seasons.

3). Been named NBA MVP at least once in the previous three seasons.

When asked last week if it made sense to wait until next offseason to sign an extension, Adebayo said: “I mean, yeah. The money difference does play a part.”

Asked Wednesday whether the decision to hold off on the extension was a tough call or an easy one, he said: “Me and my agent and family have talked about everything behind the scenes. It was in the air. We had that conversation. You had the ifs and unknowns. At the end of the day, you figure out what’s best for you.”

Adebayo finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season but has never won the award.

Adebayo has never been first, second or third team All NBA; he essentially finished fifth among centers in balloting last season, behind All NBA first-team center Joel Embiid (474 points), second-team center Nikola Jokic (364 points) and third-team center Damantas Sabonis (147 points). Adebayo also finished behind Anthony Davis, who led the “also received votes” center category with 65 points.

Adebayo had nine points, having receiving nine third-place votes (and no first- or second-place votes) among the 100 All NBA voters.

Kristaps Porzingis (two points) and Brook Lopez (one) were the only other centers who received All NBA team votes this past spring.

INJURY UPDATE

Beyond Haywood Highsmith (who is out for at least two weeks with a sprained MCL), several other Heat players enter the season not fully healthy.

Forward Caleb Martin said there’s still discomfort in his knee but that he will play in Wednesday’s opener against Detroit at Kaseya Center (7:30 p.m., Bally Sports Sun). But he acknowledged his minutes might be somewhat limited.

Martin - who practiced Tuesday - said he expects to play off the bench, meaning Kevin Love very likely will start at power forward.

“Still feel some discomfort for sure,” Martin said. “It’s a work in progress. Staying with the treatment. I’m making really good progress, feeling a lot better. We’ll proceed with caution, see how my body responds.”

Guard Josh Richardson said his status for Wednesday is uncertain because of foot soreness; he seems less likely to play against Detroit. An MRI ruled out anything serious.

“It felt good” Tuesday, he said, though he didn’t practice. “I’m optimistic for hopefully soon. But I don’t know yet.”

Richardson has had injuries to both feet in preseason. He said he had a foot issue “a few years ago but not recently.”

And rookie guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., who has been sidelined with a groin injury, practiced Tuesday but said “we’re still having limitations with reps. Don’t want to aggravate anything. We’re taking it very slow. Feeling great. We’ll see how it goes” with regard to his Wednesday availability.

▪ Erik Spoelstra declined to say if Kyle Lowry will be his opening-night starting point guard, though that seems very likely. Lowry has said he expects to start.

TWO-WAY RULES

The three players on two-way contracts typically can each appear in as many as 50 NBA games apiece. But that’s only for teams carrying 15 players on standard contracts.

For teams, like the Heat, that are carrying 14 players on standard contracts, the three two-way players can appear in no more than 90 NBA games combined. But if the Heat signs a 15th player at any point this season, that number moves from 90 to 150.

Jamal Cain, R.J. Hampton and Cole Swider hold the Heat’s three-way contracts. It’s unclear if any will be active for Wednesday’s opener against Detroit.

If one of them is active, that would count toward the Heat’s current 90-game limit, whether the player appears in the game or not.