Norman Powell and Anthony Edwards had one public exchange that will naturally have Miami Heat fans intrigued by the possibilities. In some ways, it wouldn't be outlandish to think that Powell may have quietly already done some "recruiting" of Edwards for the Heat.
During the NBA All-Star Game media availability, cameras caught Edwards asking Powell how he liked Miami and noted that, from an outside perspective, it "looked like a vibe."
That's all it's going to take to get the buzz going. But this is not necessarily "new buzz." Edwards has been a player that many Heat fans (and likely the front office) have admired from afar. There's always been that Edwards comparison to Dwyane Wade, since coming out of college, and that has only been fuel to the pipe dream fire of the thought of Miami acquiring the young guard one day.
In fact, even while playing for Erik Spoelstra in the Olympics for Team USA, Edwards had some high praise for the Heat.
But this is all still just one big pipe dream, perhaps even less unrealistic than the Heat's current infatuation with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Anthony Edwards could be the Heat's next superstar pipe dream
Make no mistake, though. If the Heat's pursuit of Giannis does hit a dead end this summer, by either him signing a long-term extension with the Milwaukee Bucks or being traded to another team that isn't the Heat, Edwards is going to be one of their next superstars on their radars.
But, again, a path toward Edwards could be tricky. It would also require several years of patience.
Edwards is just in the second year of his new five-year deal, which doesn't expire until 2029. We're a long way away from there being even a conversation about Edwards, unless, of course, he would explore the option of demanding a trade away from Minnesota.
Even then, such a possibility still feels far off. To say that Edwards demanding a trade in the next couple of seasons would be surprising is an understatement.
Then again, this is the game the Heat likes to play. They're fully entrenched in the hypotheticals and "what ifs." It's been successful in the past, but it's also burned them, too. The Heat aren't changing anytime soon, though.
In 3-5 years, if Edwards does find his way to the trade block or hits free agency, maybe the Heat can thank Powell for laying the groundwork in recruitment. As silly as it may sound, this is not a narrative that is going away anytime soon. Especially if the Heat misses out on Giannis and if the Wolves continue to struggle to make waves in the Western Conference.