There are layers to this newly reported three-team trade between the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz.
First, the terms, via ESPN’s Shams Charania:
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Miami gets Norman Powell
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L.A. gets John Collins
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Utah gets Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a 2027 LAC 2nd-round pick
The Jazz are the easy read here. They essentially turn Collins’ expiring contract into a draft pick.
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For the Heat and Clippers, things are more interesting.
For starters, Collins and Powell are both on expiring deals. That means that the Heat and Clippers will almost immediately be facing the decision of whether to offer them big money contract extensions, or whether this works out more as a one-year rental.
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Then you’ve got the questions of fit.
Collins should work fine with the Clippers, who have a great center rotation of Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez. Slot Collins in at the 4 and let him take flight toward the rim.
The Heat have a bit more crowded backcourt, but Powell is used to playing second fiddle after doing so to James Harden with the Clippers. That might be a lot how it looks with Tyler Herro in Miami.
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The Heat did just extend Davion Mitchell, whose role might end up slightly reduced now that Powell is in town.
Given that the Heat get Powell basically by giving up Love, though, it’s a no-brainer for Miami.
The Clippers had to relinquish Powell to get Collins, so that’s a clear attempt at a reallocation of resources. Although if they then add Bradley Beal, it might make more sense (concerns about Beal being washed notwithstanding).
It’s not necessarily the exact deal anyone saw coming, although Collins and Powell both made sense as trade candidates because of their contract situations.
Soon enough, the upcoming season and pending contract negotiations will show the NBA world who was the winner of this deal.
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