It looks like the rumors were true. As expected, this NBA offseason has been a transactional fiend’s dream. Kevin Durant was traded in part of a historic seven-team deal. The Boston Celtics offloaded key players and a boatload of money. The Milwaukee Bucks shocked the world by waiving Damian Lillard and poaching Myles Turner from the only home he’s ever known.
Now, we have another multi-team deal involving the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Utah Jazz. The details are below:
BREAKING: The Clippers, Jazz and Heat have agreed to a trade that sends Norman Powell to Miami, John Collins to Los Angeles, and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a 2027 Clippers second-round pick to the Jazz, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/o0FkV0o2l8
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2025
Without further adieu, here are my grades for each team involved in this deal.
Utah Jazz
Let’s start with the easiest team to evaluate here. The Jazz are rebuilding, and John Collins is a solid basketball player who was helping them notch unnecessary victories while taking precious minutes away from their young talent. This trade allows them to get assets for a player counterproductive to their long-term goals.
Only netting one second-round pick may seem like a Chicago Bulls-ian disappointment, but although Collins is a nice role player, he is on a bloated contract (making $26.6 million next season), which diminishes his value to a degree. The fact the Jazz didn’t have to attach anything to get off his contract is a win in and of itself. Plus, they acquired two veterans in Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love who, if they stay, could offer invaluable leadership and moral support.
Grade: B+
Miami Heat
The Heat never go down easy. After refusing to part with certain assets to land Durant, it seemed like the Heat were abandoning their philosophy and finally deciding to do some sort of traditional rebuild. Think again. Team president Pat Riley and the Heat see a diminished Eastern Conference and view that as an opportunity to make their fourth deep playoff run of the 2020s.
Those who follow my work know I am a huge advocate for Norman Powell. Powell is one of the most complete scorers in the Association. He can score from all three levels while playing on and off the ball, and does so efficiently. Last year, he proved he can maintain strong efficiency when his scoring load increases. In 2024-25, Powell took 2.4 more field goals per game than he ever had before, yet his true shooting (61.5 percent) was above his career average (60 percent).
Norman Powell averaged 21.8 PPG on 42% 3PFG last season 🔥pic.twitter.com/FSeO6NZMQb
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) July 7, 2025
Powell immediately becomes one of Miami’s top-two offensive players (in my opinion, he’s their best offensive player). The only issue is the Heat already have two other players from the same combo guard lineage in Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier. Given their flexible offensive skillsets, there’s no question they could fit alongside one another.
But given their status as negative defenders (all three had a negative Defensive Plus-Minus last season), a backcourt featuring two of those three players will be at a severe disadvantage on that end of the floor. Still, with Powell in the fold, the Heat are a better team than they were yesterday, and all it cost was a couple grey-bearded veterans.
Grade: A-
Los Angeles Clippers
If I love the Heat acquiring Powell, I’m not too found of the Clippers trading him away. There’s some reporting out there that paints the Clippers as Bradley Beal’s next destination after he completes a buyout with the Phoenix Suns. But to be honest, Powell is a flat-out better player than Beal at this point. So, if that corresponding move is their main reason for pushing this button, I’m not a fan.
With that said, although I don’t necessarily agree with the Clippers’ decision, there is some evidence that backs up their choice. First, while Powell was excellent for Los Angeles in the early part of the season, his value and production diminished as Kawhi Leonard rounded out into form (see chart below). This makes him seem less uniquely tied to the team’s success and easier to appropriate with someone like Bogdan Bogdanovic, who they brought in last trade deadline.
On top of that, Collins gives James Harden an aerial pick-and-roll partner — which he didn’t really have before — who can play power forward or center in small-ball lineups. And if the Beal rumors are true, the Clippers basically got two rotational players for the price of one, which further enhances their greatest strength: their depth.
Still, I can’t stomach the idea the Clippers gave up the best player in the trade and were the only team to part ways with draft capital.
