Former Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell didn’t expect the LA Clippers to trade him.
After all, Norman Powell had a career year during the 2024-25 NBA season, averaging 21.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
With Powell’s trade value reaching a career-high, the Clippers sent him to the Miami Heat as part of a three-team trade, including the Utah Jazz.
The Clippers received a talented big man in John Collins with the move. But what about Powell? The 32-year-old apparently feels betrayed by the trade.
Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty ImagesNorman Powell makes ‘crazy’ admission about getting traded
Powell initially arrived in Los Angeles after the Portland Trail Blazers traded him to the Clippers in the middle of the 2021-22 NBA season.
Since then, Powell has shown great signs of improvement. But even with his improved numbers, Powell revealed that the Clippers did tell him that teams were interested in him this offseason.
“I didn’t know what to think at first. It was a crazy couple of weeks,” Powell said. “What they were telling me I knew it was a possibility, they told me teams were interested and inquiring about me, but made it sound like there wasn’t a high possibility of it happening.”
So, what happened next? Powell revealed that the Clippers hinted at initiating contract extension talks with him.
“They valued me and told me they wanted me to be a Clipper, and we were going to figure out what an extension looks like, and extension talks,” he continued.
But in reality, the Clippers traded him to the Heat. Powell revealed he was in ‘shock’ after learning about the news.
“I was in Europe at the time, so we were waiting until I got back. When I got the call, I was being traded, it was a shock. I just had a career year, and you figure you will have extension talks,” he stated.
Norman Powell says playing for the Miami Heat is a ‘full circle moment’ for him
It doesn’t matter how the Clippers broke the news to Powell. The reality is that he’s now a member of the Heat.
Speaking of which, Powell seems excited to wear the team’s jersey as he made an admission about Heat legend Dwyane Wade.
“Thinking back to my childhood being a big fan of Dwyane Wade. It’s a childhood dream that want to play for, it’s a cool full circle moment for me.
“I was shocked I was traded, but I am excited about the opportunity,” Powell concluded.
The Heat finished the 2024-25 NBA season with a 37-45 record and will hope Powell’s arrival helps in registering a better record next season.