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

Longtime ESPN Writer Gives Miami Heat Top-Five Offseason Grade

Originally posted on Miami Heat on SI | By Alex Toledo | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 3:12 PM ET

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.

Pelton: Houston #Rockets - Grade: A
No team did more to improve its chances at the 2026 title than the Rockets, who added two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant without sacrificing depth in the process.https://t.co/V2SZkWhGCC
— Chris A. White (@fyrebear) July 28, 2025

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.

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.