Norman Powell said he wanted to remain with the Miami Heat before signing with the Chicago Bulls in free agency, but he accepted the business side of the NBA as Miami reshaped its roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“Did I want to return to Miami? Yeah, I did,” Powell told Chicago-based media in Las Vegas on Saturday, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “But obviously, it’s a business. They made their decisions and made their moves and things happen. And it is what it is.”
Powell joined the Bulls on a two-year, $45 million contract after spending the 2025-26 season with Miami, where he emerged as one of the Heat’s leading scorers. The veteran guard averaged 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 58 games, including 52 starts, while shooting 47.0% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range.
His production made him a key part of Miami’s offense during a season in which the Heat finished 43-39 and earned the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. Powell led the team in scoring, ahead of Tyler Herro at 20.5 points per game and Bam Adebayo at 20.1 points per game.
Powell also provided efficient perimeter scoring, posting a 55.8% effective field goal percentage while attempting 7.1 three-pointers per game. His ability to create offense without dominating possessions helped Miami balance a lineup that also featured Andrew Wiggins, Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr.
However, Miami’s offseason direction changed dramatically after acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat sent out Herro, Jaquez and Kel’el Ware as part of the deal while prioritizing a new roster structure built around Giannis and Adebayo.
With the Heat needing to manage long-term finances and preserve flexibility for the 2027 offseason, Powell became one of the veterans who moved on. Miami replaced some perimeter scoring by signing Tim Hardaway Jr. and retained Simone Fontecchio, while continuing to add younger players through the draft and two-way contracts.
Powell said he is focused on his new situation in Chicago despite the uncertainty surrounding the second year of his contract.
“I go in every situation wanting to be where I’m at and help win,” Powell said. “Looking at the business of it, I’ve been around so long that it crossed my mind. But I’m focused on being in the moment.”
The Bulls entered the offseason rebuilding around younger players such as Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and fourth overall pick Caleb Wilson. Chicago finished the 2025-26 season 31-51 and used its available cap space to add Powell as a veteran scoring option alongside its developing core.
