$45 Million! Officially Signed! All-Star Guard Says Goodbye to Giannis

Gone, the Heat's best backcourt is no more.

Newsbreaker Shams:Powell signs with the Bulls for two years, $45 million.

Born on May 25, 1993, he stands 1.91m tall with a 2.10m wingspan, and was the 16th pick in the second round of the 2015 draft.

Last summer, Powell was traded to the Heat, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as he played the best season of his career in his new home. In the regular season last year, he averaged 29.6 minutes per game, contributing 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals, with shooting percentages of 47%, 38%, and 82.7% from the field, three-point line, and free-throw line, respectively.

Notably, at the age of 32, Powell earned his first All-Star selection this year—a true late bloomer. The Bulls are his fifth team, having previously played for the Raptors, Trail Blazers, Clippers, and Heat.

By the way, in the 2018-19 season, Powell helped the Raptors win the championship as a key rotation player. Their leader back then, Leonard, has returned, but Powell may never go back. For most people, stories are only meant to be remembered; reunions are a luxury that can only be hoped for, not guaranteed.

Back to the point: with Powell officially leaving, the Heat's top priority is to strengthen the backcourt. They can't expect a 34-year-old newcomer like Tim Hardaway Jr., who is earning $6.5 million annually, to start at shooting guard.

Although the Heat boast arguably the most luxurious frontcourt in the league—Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins—basketball is still a five-man game, and the two backcourt positions are equally critical.

No wonder the outside world is skeptical of Giannis's decision to bring his talents to Miami; it seems the Heat's roster may be imbalanced, making it difficult for them to have genuine championship contention next season...

The question is: which high-quality guard in his prime is still available for the Heat through trades or free agency? Looking around, there doesn't seem to be any—unless they could sign LeBron James, who has confirmed his departure from the Lakers, to play point guard. That would solve many problems at once.