The 2026 NBA trade deadline is now less than two weeks away, and many have wondered if the Miami Heat will be seeking to make any legitimate moves. The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman reported that the Heat could have motivation to go out and acquire a first-round pick, and hinted at how they might achieve that goal.
Winderman writes: "Because of that situation with those locked first-round picks, it could have the Heat aggressive at the trading deadline seeking to add a 1st-round pick ... Among current members of the roster who potentially could fetch a 1st-round pick at next week‘s deadline are Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins."
Of course, the situation Winderman is referring to being the Terry Rozier trade, wherein Miami lost a future first-rounder to Charlotte two years ago. Since they're now without their 2027 first-round pick, it would make sense if the Heat wanted to make up for that situation.
But even so, giving up Norman Powell or Andrew Wiggins would have to be done with extreme caution and only after evaluating all options thoroughly. Both have been excellent in a Heat uniform this season, and parting with them too lightly would represent a missed opportunity since they'll both be relatively sought after by teams around the league.
The Heat may try to trade Norman Powell or Andrew Wiggins for a first
With Powell's situation, he's obviously continued to elevate when it comes to his on-court production. We all thought he was underrated with the Clippers, and now he's just continued to produce with more freedom in Miami's dynamic offensive system.
The issue with Norm has nothing to do with his production or whether he can affect winning basketball enough to be part of the Heat's long-term core. It has everything to do with his contract situation. The Clippers were unsure if they wanted to pay him, since he's angling toward an All-Star selection this season, which will make him eligible for a huge extension. That's now the same dilemma Miami now faces.
You can sell high, which may end up being the smarter choice if you do it for the right price. Or you can hold on to him for the future, but you do so at the risk of knowing that he could be in the market for a massive payday the likes of which you may not be able to grant him.
If it's truly the Heat's mission to get more draft capital this deadline, they're going to have to strike a delicate balance. Acquiring picks makes sense, but so does protecting proven contributors. Miami can't afford to mess this up.