The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talk that had been building for over a year finally came to an end late Monday night. The Greek Freak is officially heading to the Miami Heat.
The deal won’t become final until July 6 because of first-apron rules, but Heat fans are already picturing a championship parade. Still, an NBA insider just pointed out a side effect of this move that not everyone is talking about.
Brian Windhorst’s Latest Revelation After the Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade
In a recent segment on ESPN’s “Get Up,” NBA insider Brian Windhorst said Norman Powell probably won’t be sticking around in Miami unless he agrees to a serious pay cut.
“They’re gonna lose their All-Star, Norman Powell. Norman Powell was their All-Star. Unless he takes a crazy discount. He’s gonna be gone. They will have to replace him…”
“Andy Ellisburg, their General Manager, is superior at his job. Erik Spoelstra, their developmental staff, I’m betting on the Heat. Just not in 2026-2027,” Windhorst said during the interview.
Brian Windhorst says Norman Powell will be GONE, unless he takes a massive pay cut:
“They’re gonna lose their All Star, Norman Powell. Unless he takes a crazy discount. He’s gonna be gone… Andy Ellisburg their GM, is superior at his job. Erik Spoelstra, their developmental… pic.twitter.com/fpzXi6I1nH
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) June 23, 2026
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Heat received Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks in the trade. In return, Milwaukee acquired Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap, and one second-round pick.
So why does Windhorst think Powell is on his way out? It comes down to money and timing.
Antetokounmpo is now in the final guaranteed year of his deal, with a player option for the 2027-28 season. He will become eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million max extension with Miami starting in January 2027, once the required six-month waiting period after the trade wraps up.
Powell, on the other hand, is in the last year of the five-year, $90 million contract he signed back in 2021, and his cap hit for next season sits at $30,724,137.
If the Heat wants to keep both Powell and have room to eventually hand Antetokounmpo that max extension, something has to give. Powell would almost certainly need to take less money or sign a shorter, team-friendly deal just to give Miami enough breathing room under the luxury tax.
Now with this kind of squeezing, analysts have already started guessing where Powell might land if he leaves. According to NBA analyst Yossi Gozlan, the Detroit Pistons are looking at adding Powell to their roster this offseason.
“Sources say that the Pistons indeed intend to add Powell, who is coming off his first All-Star season, to their list of potential offseason targets,” Gozlan wrote in his Substack.
Powell averaged 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals across 58 games for the Heat in 2025-26. His performance last season helped him earn his first All-Star nod. If he ends up in Detroit, he would give the Pistons reliable floor spacing alongside Cade Cunningham.
For now, nothing is settled. The Greek Freak trade still needs to clear the league’s approval process, and Powell’s future is just one of several pieces the Heat will have to sort out this summer.
