Miami Heat fans, and each of the teams involved in the three-team trade for John Collins, assumed Norman Powell would be the second scoring option under Erik Spoelstra. Powell is one of the best in the business at all three levels, but Tyler Herro was always Spoelstra’s top scorer.
Herro had South Beach chanting his name as one of the best guards in the Eastern Conference after making the first All-Star cut of his career. He did this by playing 77 games and multitasking the Heat’s offense with 23.9 points and 5.5 assists.
Nevertheless, the Heat did not go very far last season and needed a player like Powell to join Herro and Bam Adebayo as a solidified big-three that can take over the waters following their time with Jimmy Butler. Additionally, Andrew Wiggins also exists as an elite role player and former All-Star.
Yet, with the latest news on Tyler Herro, the Heat should be thanking the LA Clippers for receiving Powell in the summer of everyone on the trade block, as he will dominate while the former Kentucky Wildcat makes his way back.
Norman Powell is the perfect first scoring option for the Miami Heat to have until Tyler Herro returns
Norman Powell was never the first scoring option on the LA Clippers, but he was close last season with James Harden. Yet, next season, he will be for quite some time, as Tyler Herro will be out for approximately eight weeks due to successful ankle surgery.
INJURY UPDATE: Tyler Herro underwent successful surgery today to alleviate posterior impingement syndrome in his left ankle. Herro is expected to miss around eight weeks.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) September 19, 2025
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Moreover, his 27-game sample size last season until Kawhi Leonard debuted was sensational, as he led the Clippers in scoring at 23.6 points per game, shooting 48.0% from the floor and 44.1% from a distance.
Of course, Leonard being back on the hardwood affected his stats, but seeing these numbers should excite fans of the Miami Heat, adding a sense of relief to Herro’s injury news.
Had the Clippers chosen to remain committed to Powell after the playoff loss versus the Denver Nuggets, like they did with Harden, the Heat would have never received the former UCLA Bruin, and possibly been in a position to unload all of their pressure on Bam Adebayo.
However, because Powell was on the trade block and the Clippers needed an athletic forward, which turned out to be John Collins, the Heat were in a position to acquire the seasoned veteran, which may have saved their season.