​LAS VEGAS — Saturday’s NBA Summer League action once again underscored how the past can overshadow the present. With the Heat resting two of their top players during a 93-88 defeat to the Orlando Magic’s summer roster on the UNLV campus, the broader storyline centered on Norman Powell’s evening at a nearby hotel as he talked through parting ways with Miami and heading toward free agency.
Powell’s exit came as a consequence of the Heat’s bold moves to accommodate Giannis Antetokounmpo and the resulting squeeze on the club’s salary cap. He chose a two-year, $45 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, a decision that came just a day after Tyler Herro publicly reflected on his own departure to the Milwaukee Bucks. Powell, meanwhile, spoke about his next steps and the possibility of a return to Miami at some point, though he emphasized the business realities that dictated his path.
“I did want to come back, but obviously, it’s a business,” Powell told a group of Chicago-based reporters. “They made their decisions and moves, and things happen. And it is what it is.” With the second year of his contract not guaranteed, Powell also left room for the chance of an in-season trade, noting that while he always aims to help his team win, he’s been around the league long enough to understand the business realities. “I go into every situation wanting to be where I’m at and help win,” he said. “Looking at the business of it, I’ve been around so long that it crossed my mind. But I’m focused on being in the moment.”
So for now, Powell shifts from Heat All-Star to mentor at age 33, moving toward a new phase in a new city. “Going somewhere where they value you and know your worth, and I want to work with you is really important,” he explained. “I’m really excited for coming to a new city, a new chapter, and being a part of something that could be very special.” He acknowledged that some observers might count his new chapter out or peg the Bulls as a potential play-in team or near the bottom of the standings, but he still believes in the potential for impact. “I think we’ll be able to shock and surprise some teams this year,” Powell asserted, projecting a sense of optimism amid the change.
As for the present moment, Powell knows exactly where he stands in his career: the pursuit of winning and a return to championship contention. “The whole focal point is winning and wanting to get back to that championship stage,” he said. “But looking at the opportunity that was in front of me, that’s going to allow me to play my game.”
Five notes from Saturday’s Heat showing:
1) Day off: After four straight Summer League appearances, including three in San Francisco, second-round pick Ryan Conwell and two-way player Tre Donaldson were granted a rest. That left an opening lineup of Jahmir Young, Trevor Keels, Tre White, J’Vonne Hadley and Vlad Goldin. None of those five are under contract with the Heat, with Goldin holding a qualifying offer for a two-way deal.
2) Keels’ day: Keels left the floor briefly in the second period with a knee issue but returned before the half. He finished with 32 points on 12-for-19 shooting, including 6-for-10 from three-point range. Keels ended last season on a Heat two-way contract, a nod to his ongoing pursuit of a stable role at the NBA level.