The Miami Heat may have to make a consolidation-type trade at the deadine if they plan to re-sign Norman Powell. And with the way he's played so far this season, I can't imagine a world in which the Heat doesn't look to sign him to an extension during the summer.
That could be much easier said than done. With big money already promised to Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Andrew Wiggins (player option) next season, the Heat won't have a ton of wiggle room to re-sign Powell without entering the luxury tax. That doesn't even account for Nikola Jovic's contract extension and the fact that Jaime Jaquez Jr. will also be up for a pricey extension during the summer. Clearly, something has to give.
Unless, of course, they make a trade to consolidate some of their roster at the trade deadline.
While that may not have been the initial plan, there's reason to believe that the Heat could slowly be moving in that direction. Powell has been that good. And Miami can't possibly risk losing him during the offseason for nothing.
Through the first 20-plus games of the season, there's an argument to be made that Powell has been the Heat's most important offensive player, averaging 24 points and four rebounds per game on 49 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent shooting from 3-point range.
In theory, that's not a player who "sell" after just one season.
Heat are juggling many possibilities heading into the NBA Trade Deadline
Heading into the NBA Trade Deadline, especially with the rumor mill churning, there's reason to believe that the Heat are attempting to juggle many possibilities. Of course, the simplest pipe dream scenario heading into the deadline revolves around trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But, as has been laid out, that's far from a certainty.
If Giannis were to demand a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks and hit the trade block, that's a path where many of the Heat's future concerns would be answered in one move. That's one of those potential deals that would solve the Heat's financial issues for them.
Plus, they'd get the superstar that they've been dreaming about for the past few years.
If that doesn't happen, though, the Heat will have other big decisions to make regarding Herro, Powell, Wiggins, and Jaquez Jr.
All four of these players are almost certainly going to be seeking new contracts this summer - three of them could flat out hit the free-agent market.
That means the Heat has some work to do on all these fronts. The problem is, the Heat can't pay them all. That's the biggest issue that Miami is currently facing, and the excellent play of Powell this season hasn't made it any easier.
As the next trade season quickly approaches, the Heat will be forced into what feels like an impossible decision for their future. And Powell is dead-center of it all.