Some NBA experts feel the Miami Heat could part ways with some key, major components during free agency
The Miami Heat thought they had a dream combo when they paired Tyler Herro and Norman Powell Jr., last summer.
The duo never reached the potential many thought it would. Despite having two All-Stars, the Heat were unable to make it work. It's why NBA Insider Zach Lowe feels major changes could be coming this offseason.
"They just gave up playing Herro and Powell together, completely" Lowe said on his podcast. "One made the All-Star team this year. One is a franchise mainstay who made the All-Star team last year."
The problem is the Heat basically abandoned the Herro-Powell combo during the season. The two rarely played together. Some of it was because of injuries but coach Erik Spoelstra used different lineup combinations when both were healthy.
The decision left Lowe baffled because he felt Herro and Powell should have played more together.
"I understand the defensive limitations, the overall lap in skills to some degree," Lowe said. "They actually don't play very similar on offense at all but whatever. To just decide we can't play them together for six minutes a game when they're two of the four most four talented players on the team is really shocking to me and hints at just something under the hood wasn't right."
It leads Lowe to believe the Heat are set to entertain offers from teams around the league once free agency begins. Lowe feels both All-Stars could find themselves on new teams this summer.
"I don't think both of those guys are going to be on the team next year," Lowe said. "I think there's a chance that neither of them are on the team next year."
The Heat have said center Bam Adebayo is the only player considered untouchable on the trade market. Having pieces like Herro and Powell to dangle in trade talks could serve as the key bargaining chips in acquiring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. The Heat failed in recent attempts to add elite players, missing out on the likes of Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard in the past.
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com