To the credit of youngsters gathered at the Miami Heat’s basketball clinic on Thursday at the Rolling Loud music-fest venue at Hard Rock Stadium, they tried.
Soon the hand didn’t go up and the question arose about possibly trading the Heat for Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, then Heat guard Victor Oladipo said, “We can’t answer that.”
That, of course, wasn’t, isn’t, and won’t stop talking, lest the Heat continue to be linked with potential trades for Mitchell and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant.
So not only won’t Oladipo go there, teammate Bam Adebayo won’t go either – even if speculation centers on the possibility that he may be going somewhere.
“It’s what you can control, control,” said Adebayo, who has been seen as the linchpin for a potential deal for Durant. “Obviously this is an opportunity for some, but in my opinion, control what you can control. I can’t control it.
“So do what I was doing. I wake up early. I prepare. Having fun with these kids. And I’m going home and going to sleep.”
Both Adebayo and Oladipo were asked about the perception that the Heat have been left behind by not having an outside advantage this offseason, have not added a free agent, but lost the power to forward PJ Tucker to the Philadelphia 76ers. Is.
“They’re always counting on us,” Adebayo said. “We kennel for a reason, Dalit. He’s our chip. You can believe what you want, you can say whatever you want.”
The Heat ended last season within one victory of the NBA Finals. From that origin, the Heat re-signed Oladipo, Caleb Martin and Dwayne Deadman this offseason, with the rest of the rotation returning, beyond Tucker.
“Outside views told Golden State they weren’t going to win last year,” Oladipo said, dismissing those who are ruling out the Heat’s chances. “Never mind. Everybody has opinions, man. Opinions are like feelings, everybody got them. Can’t do anything about them. You just have to focus on yourself and we just focus on the heat. We’ve always been We are like that.
“Last year, we were just like that. We just focus on us. Can’t really control what people think or say. We can’t control where they rank us or such Anything. I really can’t control what they say about me. I don’t really care anymore. So we’re just going out there. And we’re just playing. We’ll keep improving and winning championships. I will do my best to help us.
Thursday’s clinic, run by Junior Heat, included 50 kids from afterschool All Stars, including Rolling Loud founders Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif.
For Oladipo, who has been removed from quadriceps surgery for just over a year and is still working back from years of knee issues, being on just one court has been especially meaningful, even. That is built temporarily in the parking lot of Miami Dolphins Stadium.
“It’s nice to be able to circle again in time for summer,” he said with a smile. “Just to work and play against guys in the summer and to work on my game and improve my game, to improve my strength, just to be comfortable there. So looking forward to the opportunity that lies ahead.”
Adebayo’s courttime on Thursday included shots from 3-point range, with a workout on such shot attempts that went viral while he was on vacation in London.
“When I do this in the States,” he said, “I don’t want to hear any of these media outlets asking me a billion questions about it. Because I know you’ll ask me. And that’s it.”
As far as taking a more active role in the crime and becoming a threat to outdoor shootings, Adebayo said it would depend on his own efforts and consultation with coach Eric Spoelstra.
“Repeat,” he said, “and then talk with Spoe about the game plan for the start of the season, and there we go.”
,
