The Miami Heat can't get caught up in the Norman Powell hype, at least not yet. That's the biggest reason they can't move on a contract extension for him just yet, no matter how tempting it may seem. And that's what Heat scribe Ira Winderman lays out so perfectly.
"If you are the Heat, you do not commit to anything else extensive going forward (including a Tyler Herro extension) unless you are certainly you are more, far more, than a play-in team."Ira Winderman on extending Norman Powell
That's exactly the mindset the Heat's front office needs to have. Even though it may seem to be the right decision to lock up Powell now, whose extension window is now open, it may not be that simple.
The Heat can't be in a rush to keep the status quo
Sure, it would be ideal if they could lock up Powell and perhaps other players on their roster, but why would they be in such a hurry to lock themselves into future mediocrity?
For as impressed as the Heat may be with a player like Powell, unless there's clear evidence that he raises the team's ceiling higher than it's been over the last few years, there's no incentive for the team to break the bank to keep this roster together.
And that's not necessarily an indictment on Powell, Herro, or even anyone else on this roster. It's become quite obvious that the Heat has some big questions to answer about their future, and so much remains unsettled about it.
After all, this season was always considered to be a "gap" year. Gap years are meant to answer the difficult questions. For the Heat, that's what they should be prioritizing for the remainder of the season.
One of those difficult questions just so happens to revolve around Powell.
In a vacuum, it would make sense for the Heat to keep one of their best players. Through the first half of this season, that's exactly what Powell has been for the Heat. However, at the same time, it's hard to argue their ceiling has risen much this season compared to the last few years.
A big extension to Powell now would be a pretty tough plan to sell to the fan base, especially considering the team still feels destined to the Play-In Tournament.
For a franchise that prides itself on championship or bust, locking itself into mediocrity for a few more seasons with the status quo can't be the goal.
An extension for Powell may eventually come, but now is not the time to do so.