The Miami Heat took one real swing last summer: Acquiring Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade. On paper, the deal was a steal for the Miami Heat. Though the two biggest questions were how he’d lift a perpetually bottom-third offense and, most importantly, how he’d jell with Tyler Herro in the backcourt.
With the help of a new offensive scheme, Powell had one of the best seasons of his career in Miami, averaging 21.7 points on 60.9 percent true shooting. He was excellent up until January, propelling himself to the All-Star game for the first time in his career.
Yet, his fit with Herro turned into an unmitigated disaster because of injuries and their duplicitous one-way skillsets. During his exit interview, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra explained why meshing these two skilled offensive talents became one of his biggest challenges.
“It ended up becoming a challenge at the very end,” he said. “I think we would have been able to do it. I think they would have been dynamic. It’s just unfortunate. There’s things you can’t control or predict. When one was dealing with an injury, the other was in the mix and playing well, and then it would just flip-flop.
“If I say anything right now, it’ll just come across as an excuse. But if you miss that many games … that’s a big hit.”
Heat cannot bring both Tyler Herro, Norman Powell back:
Since Herro was limited to a career-low 33 games, the duo appeared in just 21 games together. Their record (7-14) in those games was uninspiring, and their results while sharing the court were just as bad.
When both Herro and Powell were on the floor, they owned a minus-5.7 NET Rating. Against teams who were top-10 in NET Rating (per Cleaning The Glass), that number skyrocketed to a dismal minus-18.5, albeit across 107 minutes (230 possessions).
Teams in the NBA are better at exploiting mismatches than ever before. And teams would routinely hunt those two in actions because both are below-average defenders, at best. And when neither were scoring, they provided little-to-no value other than their shooting gravity.
At the end of the day, it didn’t matter how much time Herro or Powell missed. This experiment wouldn’t have worked given the Heat’s current roster construction. They don’t have enough point-of-attack defenders, floor spacers or size to make up for their deficiencies. Thus, I don’t think you can bring those two back in any scenario.
In fact, there’s a cogent argument that the Heat shouldn’t bring either back. Powell’s a free agent, and Herro will be on a $33 million expiring contract this summer.
What do you think the Heat should and will do with Herro and Powell?! Let us know in the comments!
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Interesting comments from Kendrick Perkins in YARDBARKER today.
Growing doubts around Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro as Heat’s future duo
“Pat Riley, I want to catch a big fish, I want to catch a whale. Every f—ing offseason, every trade deadline. But you keep bringing in sea bass. Real talk, and I hate to make this transition, but I gotta say it, Miami Heat have been in the play-in tournament for four consecutive years. And they just don’t make real powerful moves. He didn’t want to go get Dame. They tried for KD, but KD didn’t want to go there. You get rid of Jimmy. It’s a lot of question marks.”
“I’m starting to wonder is he past his time when it comes to being the guy that oversees this organization? At some point you’ve got to really have an honest f—ing conversation and ask yourself, is Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, are those the two guys that’s going to get me to where I’m trying to go? And the answer is no.”
There are times Perk talks out of his butt. Riley definitely wanted Lillard. And I have never heard that KD didn’t want to come here.in fact, I thought he said the opposite
Herro and Powell didn’t work but the sample was so low. Herro, Powell and Ware as 3 of the top 7 doesn’t work because of the defense.
Never understood the opinions trashing Herro and pretty convinced it’s based on appearance and also now injury history.
Powell is one of the best shooters in the NBA, would be unfair to blame him for the Heat’s slide in the 2nd half of the season. Watched the opinion on Powell swing back and forth, Toronto fans thought he was the worst player in the league in his first years all because of a down shooting year.
Everything with the team is up in the air now but would make no sense for the Heat to let either go for nothing. They are different players despite both being high volume scorers, Herro has more creation to his game (career avg 4 APG) and would be more valuable in a trade. Very unpopular opinion here but I think Herro still has another level to reach as a scorer, not sure if he will ever do that or will max out as a 20/5/5 guy.
Top 2 Candidates for 2025-2026 NBA 6th Man Of The Year Award
Jaime Jaquez
15.4 PPG, 50.7% FG, 31.7% 3-PT, 76.9% FT, 5.0 RPG, 4.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Keldon Johnson
13.2 PPG, 51.9% FG, 36.3% 3-PT, 79.4% FT, 5.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
The 3 biggest statistical disparities between the two are:
In the 2025-26 season, the Heat held a record of 43-39.
The team had a 29-20 record in games Herro did not play and 14-19 record in games he did play.
Herro and Powell appeared in just 21 games together. Their record was 7-14 in those games.
I’m not saying Miami is a better team with Herro gone. Oh wait, yes I am.
Any questions?
I don’t think the Heat will resign Powell. Best case scenario likely will be a sign and trade so we get something back (yes, I know, why not at the trade deadline).
As for Herro, I don’t know of anyone here that is unaware that he is a gifted offensive player, and poor defensively. With an expiring contract, his trade value is enhanced as a team could test drive him for part or all of a season with minimal risk. I don’t see how an acquiring team does not take into consideration his defense and injury history. I believe it would be best for him and the team to part ways. He will bring a return, but I’m not sure exactly what.
Both gotta go. I know we’ll lose offersive explosion, but it feels like we give up 2 for every point they score.
Better off getting minutes to prospects, who may develop into two way players.
Because they’re the same player
No article needed