In what has already proven to be an insane NBA Trade Deadline, the Toronto Raptors traded shooting guard Norman Powell to the Portland Trail Blazers. In exchange, the Raptors acquired a young but talented player in Gary Trent Jr. as well as NBA journeyman Rodney Hood.
Both Raptors and Blazers Win in Norman Powell Trade
Powell is putting up a career-high 19.6 points per game (ppg) and shooting almost 44% from three-point range. The Trail Blazers will be able to put Powell at the small forward position and bring Derrick Jones Jr. off of the bench. Powell is also a solid defender and will pair nicely on the court with Robert Covington defending the perimeter.
For the Toronto Raptors, trading Powell will save them from an $11 million cap hit next season. But more importantly, the addition of Gary Trent Jr. gives them many directions they can go in with regard to the point guard position. Will they trade Kyle Lowry and give the keys to Trent Jr.? Will they have Trent come off the bench, learn from Lowry and eventually take over in a couple of years?
The Portland Trail Blazers are likely done shopping at the NBA Trade Deadline. However, watch out for Toronto to continue making moves if Bobby Webster wants to off-load older players, like Kyle Lowry, to build draft capital and young assets.
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