The Miami Heat’s biggest splash of the offseason was acquiring veteran wing Norman Powell form the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade earlier this summer.
Powell’s addition is a fairly seamless fit, especially at the price — which came at the expense of veteran forwards Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson, both fringe rotation players. Though there are questions about his fit alongside one-time All-Star Tyler Herro, who’s coming off the best year of his career.
While the 32-year-old adds plenty of scoring punch to a Heat offense that’s been a bottom-third offense each of the three seasons, one esteemed publication believes he will take a considerable step back with Miami.
Bleacher Report tabs Norman Powell as Heat’s ‘biggest faller’ entering 2025-26:
Here’s what Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes recently wrote in an article where he listed each team’s “biggest riser” and “biggest faller”:
“Career years at age 31 are rare, but it’s even less common for a player to sustain such a late-blooming breakout,” Hughes wrote. “Powell put up a personal-best 21.8 points on a 61.5 true shooting percentage for the Clippers last season, starting a career-high 60 games and even earning some All-Star consideration. He might still be a solid offensive starter for the Heat, but he’s not going to duplicate last season’s efforts.”
There’s no doubt that last season was the best year of Powell’s 10-year career.
In his first season as a full-time starter since 2021-22, he averaged a career-high 21.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 48.4 percent shooting from the floor, 41.8 percent from 3-point range and 80.4 percent from the free-throw line.
He was the Clippers’ No. 2 option alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. And there is a world where that the case with Herro, Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins.
It remains up in the air whether Powell will begin the season as a starter or not. With two top-4 Sixth Man of the Year finishes, he’s shown that he’s more than capable coming off the bench and providing a positive impact.
I don’t think he’s the biggest faller, however. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
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Norman Powell at press conference: “I can be an All Star if given the opportunity”. The Heat should give him the opportunity. His shooting (3 made 3FGs per game last year) doesn’t get talked about enough. Should take pressure off of Bam to be the No. 2 on offense. Big big year for Herro also to show he can keep taking steps as a facilitator. In terms of talent, the Heat could have multiple all-stars (Herro, Powell, Bam – with Wiggins right there also), DPOY (Bam) and a candidate for MIP (Jovic)
“…but he’s not going to duplicate last season’s efforts.” why do we keep doing this?! maybe we are just bored coz of the loooong off-season? or maybe they have gadget that sees the future? or running out of things to write? lol
Jovic is the biggest faller an can provide good scoring off the bench jovic has to earn that starting spot If not powell starting then I rather Mitchell Herro Wiggins bam ware to start bench rozier Larsson jovic fontecchio Goldin if they don’t play Goldin I can see rozier Larsson Jaime Jaquez Jr Fontecchio jovic spo not gone be quick to play Kasparas Jakucionis Myron Gardner Ethan Thompsons dru smith still coming off a injury
Harsh, criminally low, shocking, painfully obvious, brutal, haunting. Feel free to add any additional overdramatic adjectives.
They must be learning from AUCH.
LOL! Exactly!
All I could find, Auch is a city in France. So please explain.
A Heat site called All U Can Heat (AUCH).
Thank you. I read that occasionally.
Negative thinking and the season hasn’t even started. I would be happy with 16-20 points out of four of the starters and 12-15 out of Ware. Throw in Jovic, Larsson Jaquez, Mitchel @10-15 PPG and you have something, especially if the defense holds up or even improves.Still need a trade or two, or three to be contenders.
Jovic is coming off the bench Mitchell Larsson Jaime fontecchio Jovic if they don’t play Goldin
No need. We will read it all till season begin.