The Norman Powell era with the Toronto Raptors is over.
After much rumour and speculation, Powell was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Rodney Hood and Gary Trent Jr. Thursday.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the deal, and Sportsnet’s Michael Grange confirmed it.
Powell was the second-longest serving Raptor to Kyle Lowry – who is also widely rumoured to be on the move before the NBA’s 3:00 p.m. ET trade deadline – and had spent his entire five-season career with the Raptors.
One of the most efficient scorers in the NBA, Powell will now figure to help the Blazers make a playoff push as a likely rental with his contract almost certainly set to expire this season, as he holds a 2021-22 player option and is in the midst of a career year.
As for the Raptors, while the haul they got back for Powell may not include the kind of first-round draft pick fans may have wanted with Hood and Trent, it’s still safe to say the team made out alright.
First of all, Hood’s contract is non-guaranteed for next season and he could very easily be waived. However, the Raptors will have options with him because even though the veteran swingman has played tepidly since arriving in Portland in 2019, he showed flashes earlier in his career that he might become a semi-reliable three-and-D guy.
There’s a chance that player may still be there for the Raptors, and if he is they should have no issues keeping him around. And if not, as mentioned before, his contract can easily be disposed of.
[radioclip id=5094037]While Hood is the more established name, the real crown jewel of the transaction is Trent.
Son of Gary Trent Sr., who actually played 13 games for Toronto during the 1997-98 season, Trent Jr. is only 22 years old on his rookie contract and flashes big potential to be, ironically, another Norman Powell-type player.
In 41 games this season, Trent is averaging 15 points per game and is shooting 39.7 per cent from three-point range on a little over seven attempts per game.
He’s still a young player, so he obviously isn’t at the level that Powell is yet, but his scoring efficiency is similar. Getting him at the $2.1-million qualifying offer (or even $4.7 million if he meets a certain game or minutes threshold as Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reported) he’s owed next season compared to the $20-million-plus Powell will likely demand for somewhat similar production is just smart business. Not to mention, Trent still has plenty of room to grow as a player.
So, as far as getting back value for Powell, the Raptors certainly could’ve done worse.
