Last offseason for the Miami Heat was relatively tame after moving Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors at the trade deadline. In the early days of the offseason, there was reportedly mutual interest between the Heat and Kevin Durant. However, Miami was reluctant to move their young talent. The team ended up making one notable trade, adding veteran guard Norman Powell in exchange for veterans at the end of the rotation in Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson.
ESPN released an article, ranking the 10 best and worst trades since the beginning of the 2025 offseason. The Heat's trade for Powell is ranked at No. 5 on the "best" list.
"Only two 2026 All-Stars changed teams last summer: Durant, from Phoenix to Houston; and Powell, from the Clippers to the Heat," the article wrote. "And the price to add an All-Star was Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love -- two veterans past their prime who had no place on this Heat squad. Powell is an unrestricted free agent after this season, and it's unclear whether Miami will re-sign him -- especially with Tyler Herro eligible for an extension at the same time. But even if he only ends up playing in Miami for one season, this move was well worth it."
The move was not viewed as one of the most important trades of the offseason. It went somewhat under-the-radar despite Powell recently having a career season with the Los Angeles Clippers. Powell's age made him expendable to Los Angeles and they viewed him as a salary dump.
"Powell's playoff impact is more uncertain than his All-Star status would suggest," the article added. "Due to injuries for both players, Powell and Herro have shared the floor for just 207 minutes this season, and the Heat have been outscored in that time. It's notable, perhaps, that Powell missed all of Miami's recent seven-game winning streak, before he returned for Miami's losses to the Magic, Hornets and Lakers last week. Still, with a team-high 22.3 PPG, Powell should play a key role as Miami seeks another underdog playoff run."
The All-Star will be relied on for the Heat as they continue to fight for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With Tyler Herro recently returning to the lineup, the Heat's backcourt duo could be a real threat if both players can remain healthy.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!