Inside The Heat

Longtime ESPN Writer Gives Miami Heat Top-Five Offseason Grade

Alex Toledo|
Mar 28, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) controls the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Mar 28, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) controls the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

In this story:

Miami Heat

Despite not being willing to offer more in a trade to secure all-time talent Kevin Durant, most believe the Miami Heat had a positive offseason overall. Veteran ESPN contributor Kevin Pelton put out his annual offseason grades, where he gave the Heat a B+ for their offseason moves.

"It was an opportunistic offseason for the Heat, who took advantage of the money saved by swapping Duncan Robinson for Simone Fontecchio to convert players on the fringes of their rotation into Norman Powell, who scored 21.8 points per game for the Clippers last season," Pelton said. "Powell helps replace some of the scoring lost with Jimmy Butler's February departure and keeps Miami's books clear -- for now -- as the team eyes 2027 cap space."

The B+ grade was tied with two other teams, (Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder), for the fourth best offseason grade that Pelton gave. Ahead of the Heat were the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets.

Although the Heat didn't necessarily clear cap space with the Powell and Fontecchio trades, it didn't hurt them in that aspect either way, which is a positive for a team trying to be as competitive as possible. Not to mention, the Heat also added a consensus lottery talent in Kasparas Jakućionis with their No. 20 pick.

Trading a back-end rotation player and a guy who was not going to play this season for a player who nearly made the All-Star team last season is undoubtedly a step in the direction of getting more wins. Although Duncan Robinson has historically been a better shooter and player than Fontecchio, it seems the relationship was headed for an ending regardless.

So for the Heat, getting back a playable shooter with wing size is nice, but the move also saved them around $11 million against the luxury tax as opposed to the alternative, where Robinson picked up his $20 million option for next season.

The Robinson-for-Fontecchio swap made the Powell move, (where they added about $6.7 million in payroll), much more feasible for their tax goals. As of this point, they have the entire season to get under the luxury tax threshold, where they now stand $1.63 million above, with 14 of 15 roster spots filled.

MORE MIAMI HEAT STORIES

Longtime NBA Insider Believes LeBron James Will Finish Career On Another Team

Radio Host Predicts 6-Time All-Star Lands With Miami Heat

Published | Modified
Alex Toledo
ALEX TOLEDO

Alex, who was born in Miami, is also a producer, co-host and reporter for the Five on the Floor podcast. He has covered the Heat and NBA since 2019 as a season credential holder. He studied journalism at Florida International University.