Some NBA trades don't require hindsight to be fully evaluated. The Miami Heat's bargain deal for Norman Powell this offseason was clearly one of them. It was obvious even then that the Heat had a big steal, and it's only grown more evident since.
The move could not have come at a better time, since the loss of Tyler Herro to ankle surgery threatened to derail Miami's season before it even started. With Powell in Herro's place, though, this backcourt doesn't really have to miss a beat. Powell just produced at a near-All-Star level in a similar setup last season (carrying the Los Angeles Clippers while Kawhi Leonard was out), and he could be just as good in a revamped Heat offense that better caters to his strengths.
With Powell around, the Heat have a reason to keep hope alive. They also could have an alternative to giving Herro a huge extension if they're looking for one.
Norman Powell can help keep the Heat afloat now and potentially play his way into building-block status.
Given the minuscule amount Miami paid to acquire Powell—reserves Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love—there were virtually no ways this could go wrong. There were, however, reasons to be a bit skeptical about the trade's overall impact.
Because while Powell had been a steady performer in the past, he'd never hit the level he reached during the 2024-25 campaign. And since that was his age-31 campaign, it was fair to question whether he'd be as productive again: 21.8 points on 48.4/41.8/80.4 shooting.
Time only knows that answer, but all signs are pointing toward another massive year ahead.
With Herro stuck on the sideline for the foreseeable future, Powell has an open path to a featured scoring role. With Miami's lack of a high-end playmaker, that role figures to feature a ton of touches. And the club's commitment to pace (third-fastest in the preseason, per NBA.com) should benefit him as much as anyone, since he is best when making quick decisions on the move.
Powell's production won't crater upon Herro's return, either. There should be more than enough opportunities in this offense for both to thrive. Bam Adebayo is probably the next-most important mouth to feed, and he is best when handling tertiary scoring duties and fully diving into his many defensive responsibilities.
Powell could be awesome in Miami. He'll be invaluable with Herro out, and maybe Herro's return makes Powell even more efficient without so much defensive heat coming his way. That's the short-term look at the situation, which could be key in helping the Heat still take advantage of the wide-open nature of the Eastern Conference.
Through a longer lens, things could get awfully interesting with Powell. His contract is set to expire after this season, but the Heat might want to extend his stay. Maybe the front office feels a Powell-Herro backcourt could be something special. Or perhaps some within the organization even view Powell as a more cost-effective alternative to Herro.
Powell looks like a life-saver for the Heat, now and for however long they want to keep him around.