The Miami Heat want to keep Norman Powell in free agency and have explored a trade of Nikola Jović to create the salary flexibility to do it, according to Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor.
It is worth noting the reports conflict. As we covered, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said the Heat are expected to lose Powell unless he accepts a steep discount, while O’Connor frames Miami as actively trying to clear room to retain him. The two can coexist, a team can want to keep a player it may still lose, but the differing signals underscore how uncertain Powell’s future in Miami remains.
Moving Jović is the mechanism. The Heat have shopped him to cut salary, per O’Connor, but his contract complicates any deal. Jović is entering the first year of a four-year, $62MM deal that already looks steep for a role player, given his limited development at 23. To offload it, Miami would likely have to attach draft capital, and the front office has only a 2029 first and swaps in 2028 and 2032 to dangle.
The Heat’s interest in moving Jović is not new. As we reported last week, Miami had been looking to deal him to add shooting around its new frontcourt of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Still, no trade is guaranteed, and the team sounds open to bringing back Jović and continuing to develop him. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra framed Jović’s situation as a growth opportunity, per Ira Winderman.
“Niko’s objective this offseason? To not have a victim mindset about it, to not blame anything, just get to work and improve the things that he needs to improve, take it on his shoulders and he’ll be just fine.”
Spoelstra added that the path forward is straightforward for the young forward.
“He just needs to get out there, take the responsibility, be ready for camp next year, and be ready to reach the potential that he has as a basketball player. What he does fits.”
On the Powell front, suitors are lining up. The Detroit Pistons intend to pursue Powell to add shooting and playmaking around Cade Cunningham, per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, while the Chicago Bulls are also expected to show interest, according to Michael Scotto. Scotto reported a growing consensus around the league that Powell will not return to Miami.
The financial squeeze explains why. Miami is hard-capped at the first apron and projected to have only about $18MM of space to fill out the roster, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The picture tightens further if Andrew Wiggins picks up his $30.2MM player option, a scenario in which Miami might only be able to start a Powell offer around $12MM to $13MM annually, likely short of his market.
For now, Miami insists it wants Powell back and is working to clear the room. Whether that is enough, with Chicago and Detroit circling, may define the Heat’s offseason.
