During the 2025 offseason, the Miami Heat aimed to acquire Kevin Durant but ultimately lost out to the Houston Rockets, who secured the superstar forward through a trade. Miami’s unwillingness to include Nikola Jovic in the trade package played a pivotal role in losing the deal, according to Heat insider Barry Jackson.
Trade Negotiations Stall Over Nikola Jovic
The Heat’s reluctance to part with Nikola Jovic, a promising young forward, was a key factor that hindered the Kevin Durant trade with the Phoenix Suns and opened the door for Houston’s successful acquisition. Jackson revealed that Miami’s final proposal included Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and the 20th pick in the upcoming draft in exchange for Durant and Cody Martin.
However, the Suns insisted on adding Jovic and a pick swap to that offer, pushing Miami into a difficult decision. As Jackson explained,
“Per Shams, Suns wanted Jaquez, Jović, Highsmith, 20th pick and a pick swap (as well as Wiggins/Rozier inclusion). SO…Jovic and Kasparas J. need to work out for justify the decision, which was a difficult one for Heat to reach.”
This insistence on retaining Jovic revealed how highly the Heat valued his potential contribution to the team.
Nikola Jovic has demonstrated steady progress across his first three NBA seasons, averaging 8.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 37% three-point shooting over 107 regular-season games. Head coach Erik Spoelstra and Miami’s coaching staff evidently believe in Jovic’s upside enough to block the trade, despite the chance to add a superstar like Durant.
Norman Powell Takes Center Stage After Durant Trade Collapse
Following the failed Kevin Durant trade, Miami redirected its focus and acquired Norman Powell through a three-team deal that sent Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love to the Utah Jazz. Powell recently discussed his new opportunity with the Heat, highlighting his readiness to take on a more prominent role.
During his Sirius XM NBA Radio interview, Powell remarked,
“I’m really excited about the opportunity that’s in front of me. I think it’s a clear opportunity that I’ve been fighting for and talking about. I talked about all last year about having the opportunity to be a focal point every single night, not just a high-value contributing role player, but really seeing myself and stepping into a role that I’ve always wanted.”
Powell’s versatile scoring, playmaking ability, and perimeter defense are expected to secure him a substantial role throughout the upcoming season. However, his contract is set to expire next summer, which raises questions about his long-term fit with the franchise.
Uncertain Future for Norman Powell Despite Strong Performance
NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin pointed out that Powell’s age and contract status could lead the Heat to let him test free agency. Helin noted,
“He was traded to Miami for the final year of his contract, making $20.5 million. He is coming off a season where he made a leap (in year 10!) and averaged 21.8 points a game while shooting 41.8% from beyond the arc.”
Helin added,
“At age 32, the Clippers were hesitant to give Powell the longer extension that he wanted, which helped lead to the trade, but is Miami going to feel any differently (Miami is also trying to keep its books clean to make a big swing at a superstar down the line)? While the Heat and Powell may work out an extension, his hitting free agency seems a very real possibility.”
Powell’s impact during the next season will heavily influence the Heat’s decision. If he establishes himself as a crucial rotation piece, Miami may move to retain him. Conversely, if the team deems his presence less critical, his departure in free agency might pave the way for future roster moves designed to strengthen their chances at landing a superstar.