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Heat All-Star hints at changes after embarrassing first-round loss
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Heat All-Star hints at changes after embarrassing first-round loss

The Miami Heat suffered a humiliating 55-point loss as the Cleveland Cavaliers swept their first-round series. All-Star Bam Adebayo thinks his team's flameout is going to lead to big changes in the offseason.

Adebayo said that there would be "a lot of changes this summer" for the Heat, who lost the last two games of the series by 92 points — and they were at home! They were outscored for the entire series by 122 points, which is a record for a four-game sweep.

Pat Riley, AKA "the guy with the silver hair," will certainly want to make changes after a disastrous season for the Heat. Jimmy Butler forced his way to the Golden State Warriors after the Heat declined to offer him a contract extension, and the season crumbled after that.

Terry Rozier, acquired for a first-round pick last season, was out of the Heat's playoff rotation. He's owed $26.6M next year. Andrew Wiggins, who came over from the Warriors in the Butler deal, averaged 11.5 points in the Cavs series. He's owed over $58M the next two seasons.

Riley tends to try to make moves even after successful seasons. After a terrible one, he's almost certain to dramatically shake up the roster. Adebayo discusses him almost like he's a powerful wizard, not daring to say his name as if he's Lord Voldemort, referring to the Heat's team president only by his hair color.

But after two huge home playoff blowouts, no one on the Heat should feel like they have job security. Even Adebayo may be worried about what "the guy with the silver hair" might do.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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