Norman Powell to Miami, John Collins to LA In Three-Team Blockbuster Trade
The Miami Heat are acquiring Norman Powell, the Clippers are adding John Collins, and the Jazz will receive Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love along with a 2027 second-round pick in a blockbuster trade that occurred on Monday (July 7).
According to CBS Sports, the Heat were in search of another scorer after failing to land Kevin Durant and seemingly moving on from a potential deal with Jonathan Kuminga.
Powell is coming off a year where he averaged a career-high 21.8 points and was an All-Star candidate, sharing the scoring load while Kawhi Lenored missed the majority of the first half of the season. He also started all 60 games he played in for the first time in his career and shot 42 percent on three-point attempts. Entering the final year of his current deal, Powell is extension eligible and will make $20.4 million this season.
Collins, 27, a 6-9 athletic forward, averaged 19 points and 8.2 rebounds in 40 games for the Jazz last season. He is also entering the final year of his contract, where he’ll make $26.5 million this coming season. Collins will bring a lob threat at the rim and the defensive versatility that the Clippers have been in search of.
Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations, said in a statement that the team had been targeting Collins "for the past couple of years."
"He's in his prime," Frank said in a call with reporters on Monday. "He's a power forward who can also play some small-ball 5. He's someone who brings great athleticism, has shown the ability to score at all three levels. He's a tremendous runner, roller, vertical threat,” Frank said. “I think James [Harden] will be able to unlock certain parts of his game that can unlock our team. He also can help space the floor, shot 40% from 3 this past year, and will also help with our rebounding."
Both the Clippers and the Jazz have been busy this offseason. They agreed to a new two-year, $81.5 million contract with James Harden and signed center Brook Lopez to a two-year, $18 million deal with a team option for the second year of the contract.
The Jazz have traded Collin Sexton and a second-round pick to Charlotte for Jusuf Nurkic. They also brought Jordan Clarkson out of his contract.