The first All-Star + 100 million yuan contract? Powell wants it all, holding his breath to prove himself after being traded by the Clippers

In the first month of the new season, if there is a list of "most surprising players", Norman Powell will definitely be on the list.

Powell was abandoned by the Clippers and sent to the Heat during his contract year, but he played his career masterpiece in a new environment. Powell said, "After being traded, I held my breath to prove myself." Now he is aiming for the first All-Star Game in his career and a billion-dollar contract. The comparison between the Heat's 11-6 record and the Clippers' 5-12 record also highlights his value.

On July 7, 2025, Powell was enjoying a boating vacation in Italy, planning to sightsee and taste Italian ice cream and pasta. A phone call ruined Powell's plans.

"I was on a small boat on vacation, and my agent called me and said that I was sent to the Heat," Powell recounted everything that happened on the day of the transaction. "I had to suspend everything on hand, end the sightseeing trip early, get off the boat and talk to the agent Then a call came in from Clippers president Lawrence Frank. "I told my family that I was traded, but no one believed it until they saw the news about my trade online."

Powell and his family were not unreasonable.

Last season, Powell averaged 21.8 points per game with the Clippers, shooting 48.4% from the field and 41.8% from three-point range. Only 6 players in the league averaged at least 21 points per game and shot 48% from the field and 40% from three-point range. The other five were Jokic, Durant, Towns, LaVine and Leonard.

Although Powell's performance declined at the end of the regular season and the playoffs due to injuries and other factors, his quasi-All-Star performance in the first half of the season and the Clippers' record are very convincing, and considering that his annual salary in the 2025-26 contract year is only US$20.4 million, which is extremely cost-effective, the industry generally believes that the Clippers will retain Powell. Even Powell himself is convinced that he can stay, believing that the probability of being traded is only 20%. The more likely result is that both parties find a compromise to renew the contract in advance.

According to the rules, both parties can sign a maximum of 4-year contracts worth US$128.5 million. In the days before the deal was concluded, the two parties held preliminary negotiations. Powell communicated directly with Director Lu and stated his demands. Powell originally thought that the two sides would bargain and resolve their differences, but he did not expect that the Clippers would directly leave the negotiating table and send Powell away.

In terms of results, after Collins joined the Clippers, his data plummeted due to his acclimatization. Not only did Bill's statistics plummet, but he was also reimbursed early due to injury. The Clippers who sent Powell away were the biggest losers. But from the perspective of the time, it was not difficult to understand the Clippers' move to send Powell away. In the words of Draymond Green, the Clippers sent Powell away just because they knew they couldn't keep him.

Moreover, it is also a contract year, Collins is only 28 years old, and Powell is already 32 years old. From the aspects of player age and contract length, 2027 reconstruction plan, needs, etc., it is not difficult for the Clippers to make a choice. ESPN interviewed many scouts and executives, and these "ball-savvy players" all recognized the Clippers' operations. The result was unsatisfactory, and the Clippers were willing to admit defeat.

What Powell was unhappy with was that he felt he was backstabbed by the Clippers in the process. The two sides were still discussing a contract extension a few days ago, and the Clippers were still emphasizing how much they valued Powell, so they turned around and sent him to the Heat. Powell used "hypocrisy" to describe the Clippers. He lamented that "although everything is business, it is too bad for the Clippers to do business in this way."

While Powell was angry, he also noticed that fate had opened a wonderful window for him. Powell has long heard about the Heat culture. During the Trail Blazers era, Powell considered joining the Heat before renewing his contract. Powell admires Kobe Bryant and also admires Dwayne Wade, the soul of the Heat. The original owner of the locker he used after coming to the Heat was Wade. Powell once said: "I imitated Wade's style and observed his playing style when I was growing up. I have always said that Kobe's mentality and Wade's technical style merged into my own characteristics and style."

The timing of Powell coming to the Heat was right.

From Powell's personal perspective, being traded made him hold his breath to prove himself. Powell didn't want to use words like "hatred" and knew it wouldn't change anything, but he admitted that "being traded by the Clippers definitely added a little bit of motivation to me, eager to prove them wrong." Powell regards being selected as an All-Star as a goal, and the 2026 All-Star Game happens to be held at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the Clippers. Powell believes that "if I can be selected, it will definitely be a bit of a slap in the face of the Clippers."

From the perspective of compatibility between Powell and the Heat, the Heat, which adopted a new style of play, gave Powell room to use his full firepower. The Heat accelerated like crazy and became the fastest team in the league. The inside combination of Ware and Adebayor averaged a total of 8 three-pointers per game and 2.9 field goals for 36.3%. The Heat can put out a full-space lineup at any time. The Heat have significantly reduced the use of pick-and-rolls, and the ball will not be concentrated in one person's hands too much. They pursue continuous movement and passing of the ball by all players. This is very suitable for an attacker like Powell who can hold the ball and off the ball, and can shoot and play suddenly.

This season, Powell's shots have increased, and the space for breakthroughs and shooting has increased. He averaged a career-high 25.4 points per game, shot 50% from the field, and 46.4% from three-point range. His production and efficiency have improved. Powell lamented: "The Heat's new system fits my style very well and is conducive to giving full play to my strengths. I can catch the ball, jump or shoot, and make reading judgments on the weak side."

The Heat pursue dynamic offense, but they do not completely abandon pick-and-rolls and singles. When the time comes when a star is needed to provide a tough solution, Powell can take over. Powell scored 1.16 points per round in the pick-and-roll and 1.22 points per round in isolation. In the games that Powell played, the Heat experienced critical moments in 6 games, with a record of 5 wins and 1 loss..

"I train hard every summer and strive to become a key player," Powell said. "I should have been selected for the All-Star last season. Not being selected gave me motivation. I tell myself every day that I am an All-Star. I want to go on the court to prove it."

According to the Heat's current record and Powell's performance, it is no longer an extravagant hope for him to open the door to the All-Star. An interesting blind spot is that the 2026 All-Star Game will be divided into the U.S. Team (2 teams with 8 players each) and the World Team (1 team with 8 players in total). If Powell fights for a spot, will he be a member of the U.S. Team or the World Team?

Powell was born in the United States, but played for Jamaica in FIBA. Towns, who was born in the United States but plays FIBA ​​games for the Dominican Republic, is the same thing. In various recently announced All-Star roster predictions, Towns was included in the "America's Team" (as was Powell), but Antetokounmpo jumped the gun and included Towns in the "World Team" when talking about the new format.

In addition to the All-Star honor, Powell's "money prospects" are also good. He is eligible to sign a three-year contract with the Heat for up to US$77.4 million, with a starting salary of US$24.6 million in the 2026-27 season. After January 7, 2026, you will be eligible to sign a four-year contract of up to US$128.5 million, with a starting salary of US$28.7 million in the 2026-27 season.

The season is long, and it is still unknown whether Powell can maintain his performance after a perfect start. Tyler Herro is about to return, and his compatibility with Herro is uncertain. After experiencing everything before, Powell understands the importance of health and stability better than anyone else.

"Although I am eager to prove myself, I will not let my emotions get too high. Keep my mentality balanced and maintain the course," Powell said. Honors and appointments will come naturally.