Norman Powell could get big payday from Heat if season starts strong
The Miami Heat are willing to extend Norman Powell’s contract “if the start of the season goes well,” a source told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Powell is heading into the final year of his deal, making this a crucial season for the veteran wing.
Miami brought Powell on board in July through a three-team trade that sent Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love to the Utah Jazz.
The move initially pushed the Heat into luxury tax territory, but they managed to duck back under the tax line by trading away Haywood Highsmith and his $5.61 million expiring contract.
That clever financial maneuvering left Miami about $4 million below the luxury tax and roughly $9.5 million below the first apron hard cap.
Why does this matter? It gives the team breathing room for potential extensions.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Powell can sign an extension anytime between now and June 30. After that deadline, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.
There’s a catch, though. Since Powell was recently traded, NBA rules limit what Miami can offer him for the next six months. Until January, the most he can sign for is a three-year deal worth $77.4 million.
Once January rolls around, that ceiling jumps significantly – he’ll be eligible for a four-year, $128.5 million extension.
Powell was nearly an All-Star last season
The 32-year-old had a career year with the Clippers in 2024-25, averaging 21.8 points while shooting an impressive 48.4% from the field and 41.8% from three-point range.
Before the All-Star break, Powell was playing at an elite level. He put up 24.2 points per game on nearly 50% shooting.
His hot streak cooled after he suffered a right knee injury in February followed by hamstring issues in March. Over his final 14 regular-season games, his scoring dropped to 15.1 points per game.
It makes sense that the Heat want to see how Powell fits with their system before committing big money. After all, he hasn’t even worn a Miami uniform yet.
Meanwhile, Tyler Herro becomes eligible for his own extension starting October 1. He could add three years and $149.7 million to the two years ($31 million and $33 million) remaining on his current deal.
If Herro waits until next offseason, he could sign for four years and $206.9 million. And if he makes an All-NBA team this season? That number explodes to a five-year, $380 million supermax.
