As Heat’s Norman Powell returns to L.A., he’s using the way Clippers tenure ended as motivation

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As Heat’s Norman Powell returns to L.A., he’s using the way Clippers tenure ended as motivation

LOS ANGELES

Just a few months ago, veteran guard Norman Powell thought he would be signing a long-term extension with the Los Angeles Clippers. But a lot has changed since then.

Powell didn’t get that extension from the Clippers. Instead, the Clippers traded Powell to the Miami Heat in early July.

For the first time since that trade, Powell will return to Intuit Dome as the opponent when the Heat takes on the Clippers on Monday as part of its West Coast trip.

“I think it’s going to be fun,” Powell said, with the Heat (3-2) set to play two games in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Sunday (9:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun) and Clippers on Monday (10:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun). “One of the things when you get traded from an organization you spent a few years with, you build those relationships with the team there, with the personnel within the organization. So I’m excited to say hello to everybody, see how they’re doing, catch up.”

Whether Powell plays against his former team on Monday remains to be seen, though, as he’s dealing with right groin soreness that forced him to miss the two games leading up to the Heat’s two-game stint in Los Angeles.

But regardless of Powell’s status for Monday’s game, the bottom line is he’s not happy with how his Clippers tenure ended this past offseason.

Powell was in extension talks with the Clippers before his trade to the Heat. With the Clippers, he was eligible in July for a four-year, $128.5 million extension. Instead of signing Powell to an extension, the Clippers dealt him to the Heat as part of a three-team deal that brought John Collins to Los Angeles.

“I think it sucks,” Powell, 32, said of the abrupt ending to his time with the Clippers. “But at the end of the day, it’s a business. I think my transaction here isn’t the worst that I’ve seen or been a part of or heard about. But, yeah, it definitely sucks to do business that way.

“I’d rather not say anything and just see what happens. But when you start putting out extension talks and things like that, you kind of get in your mind that one thing is going to happen. But at the end of the day, it’s a business. Nothing is forever, nothing is permanent until the ink is signed. But yeah, it is what it is.”

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) looks during an NBA preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center on October 6, 2025, in Miami. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com

The Clippers’ decision to trade Powell to the Heat came after he produced All-Star caliber numbers for Los Angeles last regular season, averaging a career-high 21.8 points to go with 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 48.4% from the field and 41.8% on 7.1 three-point attempts per game.

Powell, who spent three-plus seasons with the Clippers before being dealt to the Heat, was among six NBA players who averaged at least 21 points per game while shooting better than 48% from the field and better than 40% from three-point range last regular season along with Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine and Kawhi Leonard.

“I try to use everything I can as motivation or as fuel,” Powell said when asked if the Clippers’ decision to trade him is a source of motivation. “I do it even keeled, though. It doesn’t take over my emotions. It doesn’t make me too high or too low. Just stay the course. But it’s definitely a little added to it to prove people wrong, to prove that they made a mistake. It’s not going to change anything, but it’s just a little thing for myself personally.”

Powell, who is on an expiring $20.5 million salary for this upcoming season, is still eligible for an extension following his move to the Heat.

Powell is currently eligible for an extension up to $77.4 over three seasons, with a 2026-27 starting salary of $24.6 million. However, on the six-month anniversary of the trade, in this case Jan. 7, Powell again would be eligible for that same four-year, $128.5 million maximum extension he hoped to get from the Clippers, with a 2026-27 starting salary of $28.7 million.

If Powell can’t agree to an extension with the Heat by June 30, 2026, he would become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

Powell is only at the start of his first season with the Heat, but he already knows he would be interested in signing an extension to stay in Miami for years to come.

“I love it here. I love everything about the Heat,” Powell emphasized. “I loved them before. They were on my list before I signed my extension in Portland. I wanted to come here and play for the Heat. So I’m excited. I like the culture. I like what they have going on here. I like the mentality and the approach. I feel like they take guys to the next level. They push them past their own expectations, they have high standards. And I always like being around people that have high aspirations and high goals for themselves. It fits who I am, so I want to be here. Hopefully they feel the same way.”

So far, so good for Powell, who averaged a team-high 24 points per game on 47.7 percent shooting from the field and 9-of-18 (50 percent) shooting from three-point range through the Heat’s first three games of the season before missing the last two games because of his groin issue. Powell has also averaged 7.3 rebounds, three assists and two steals per game through his first three appearances this season.

“Hopefully [the Heat] like everything that’s happened so far and what I bring to the table outside of just on the court,” said Powell, who recently described himself as “super low-maintenance.” “But just who I am every single day, stepping into the arena, integrating myself with the team and the staff and the members around. Hopefully everybody appreciates my presence and we’ll be able to get something done. But, yeah, I want to be here.”

For now, Monday’s game against the Clippers in Los Angeles is the focus. Powell expects the moment to be emotional, whether he’s available to play or not.

“I always like those games. I’ve had quite a few of them,” said Powell, who has now played for four different teams during his 11 NBA seasons. “So it will probably be a little emotional just being back in L.A., family and everything in the arena. Opening up, being a part of the team to open up that stadium, scoring the first points in there. So a lot of key moments for me, I cemented my name and my legacy with the Clippers. So I’m just excited about it. But it’s going to be business as usual.”

INJURY REPORT

The Heat ruled out Vlad Goldin (G League), Tyler Herro (left ankle surgery), Kasparas Jakucionis (right groin strain) and Terry Rozier (not with team) for Sunday’s game against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

Powell is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest after missing the last two games with a right groin strain.

This story was originally published November 1, 2025 at 10:39 AM.