It is downright devastating to envision something that doesn't come to fruition. Take George and Lenny from “Of Mice and Men,” for example. Those poor guys just wanted their own rabbit farm. Although things should work out better for the Miami Heat, the team is still processing the gut-punch of not having Damian Lillard on the roster for their 2023-24 NBA championship quest.

Lillard made it publicly known that Miami was his far-and-away preferred destination after requesting a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers early in the offseason. We all know how that turned out, as the Milwaukee Bucks swooped in at the end of September to land the premium talent.

Heat players were displeased by the situation, and their fans were left completely devastated. Bam Adebayo is taking a different, more insightful approach when discussing the Lillard-South Beach fakeout.

“I wish it would have just gotten over earlier,” he told SiriusXM NBA Radio, just days before Miami opens up its season at home versus the Detroit Pistons. “Not only for guys on our team, but him as an individual. Guys got kids. Guys got families, guys need to know what's about to happen….That's a lot to move in 72 hours.”

Damian Lillard, Heat have to make big adjustment

Damian Lillard playing for Heat was just not meant to be

Adebayo is touching on the more unfortunate aspects of being a top-tier athlete that everyone obviously knows but sometimes overlooks. Lillard and the Heat were both in limbo for months, waiting for an inevitable deal to be finalized. His path seemed destined to reach Miami, but several factors altered that trajectory. And the Bucks capitalized.

Such a drastic turn of events is jarring for anyone, especially three days before training camp begins. Damian Lillard is entering greener pastures, though, which is hopefully a fine consolation for the unforeseen move to Milwaukee. Bam Adebayo has to make an adjustment himself, as a once likely teammate is now a surefire rival on the road to another NBA Finals. But he is keeping the big picture in mind.

“I'm glad he got what he wanted at the end of the day, which was to leave and a chance to win,” Adebayo said. “And I feel like he has that in where he went.”