The Miami Heat bought extremely low on Norman Powell, but the 6’3 wing gives them another score-first player with defensive questions on their roster. He averaged 21.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.6 minutes per game last season. Powell shot 41.8 percent from 3-point range. The 32-year-old will get buckets, but the Heat cannot expect him to be a game-changer in Miami.
Powell finished fourth in the Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2023 and 2024. He became a starter last season and took his game to another level. His production dipped in the playoffs, but the Clippers pushed the Nuggets to seven games in the opening round. The Heat had to take a swing when just giving up Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love, but there should be worries.
Powell is entering the final year of his contract and joining his fourth team in 11 years. The Clippers are far from the first team to dump him. His defensive issues and inconsistency are worries, especially with the Heat needing a significant boost to be serious title contenders.
Heat are no closer to winning the East with Norman Powell
Powell has produced a negative defensive box score plus-minus for five straight seasons. His offensive contributions make him a positive contributor, but those defensive warts show up more in the playoffs. He had a 0.2 value over replacement player over his three playoff appearances with the Clippers.
The Heat’s inactivity has pushed them behind in the wide-open Eastern Conference. This move adds talent but creates new questions. Can Erik Spoelstra play Tyler Herro and Powell together? Both players are due for extensions and will want significant dollars. Miami can’t overpay for strictly scoring or they could face problems for years to come.
The Clippers gave up 120.3 points per 100 possessions with Powell on the floor in the playoffs and just 106.3 when he was on the bench. It is a tiny seven-game sample, but one the Clippers had to be terrified of if they plan on being serious contenders in 2026. Teams will hunt Powell in the postseason and force him to guard on the ball.
Powell had a blazing start to the 2024-25 season but cooled considerably. That inconsistency has been a theme of Powell’s career. The Heat are acquiring a talented player who will score buckets, but is he averaging 14 points off the bench or 22 as a starter? There is a massive difference, especially for a team that desperately needs offensive punch.
The Miami Heat stole Norman Powell from the Clippers. They had to make this trade, but that doesn’t mean it significantly improves their odds of winning a title. Powell will create issues for his new franchise. He will get buckets and help them win in the regular season. In the playoffs, things may change, but it was still a wise move at the price point.
The Heat are clearly being opportunistic in the marketplace. Could Pat Riley have another move or two up his sleeve? Stay tuned to find out.