Toronto Raptors: Five takeaways from an interesting preseason

Norman Powell will get his chance

After quickly falling out of favor last season, it appears Norman Powell will be given another opportunity to earn minutes. In his three preseason appearances, Powell averaged 20.3 minutes per games, sixth most on the team.

While that’s important, perhaps more important is where he is receiving those minutes. Powell has played alongside key Raptors contributors during the entire preseason and even started a few games during OG Anunoby’s absence.

This is another positive sign for Raptors fans.

Before the start of last season, Norman Powell inked a four-year $42 million extension. That extension kicks-in this year.

Player development isn’t linear, and Norman Powell is only 25 years old. Last year was rough, but to give up a player that the franchise has invested so much into would be a mistake.

If Powell can return to what Toronto saw in the 2016 playoffs, he would give Toronto another talented option on the wing. Toronto isn’t exactly starved for wings, but it’s 2018 and having another two-way option on the perimeter is never a bad thing.

With so many other options, for Powell to earn a spot in the team’s consistent rotation, he will need to shoot the ball from three at a respectable level. He certainly doesn’t need to be hitting contested jumpers off the bounce, but forcing opponents to consistently guard him on the perimeter is essential.

If Powell can keep his three-point percentage above 33-percent, expect him to stay in the rotation. If not, it will be hard to justify finding consistent minutes.