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Toronto Raptors: The case for a ‘quiet’ trade deadline

By Jordan Skuse

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors celebrates in the locker room after winning Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors celebrates in the locker room after winning Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors Norman Powell post-game interview
Toronto Raptors – Norman Powell (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Rise of Norman Powell

Maybe this is the year? Could it be? Toronto Raptors fans have been waiting for what seems like forever for Norman Powell to marry consistency with talent and recent results suggest the two components of stardom are, for the moment, coexisting inside Toronto’s #24.

Players develop at different speeds and sometimes certain players need to go through certain things to find their groove at the top level.

In the case of Powell, we presume that certain “thing” was a second shoulder injury? Jokes.

Really, it’s anybody’s guess what clicked inside Powell’s head while he sat on the sidelines, but he’s looked like a totally different, much more confident player since returning. Assertive on both ends of the floor, the UCLA product has torched opposing defences in the month of January. Also, Powell’s outside shot has been falling with more regularity ever since his return to Toronto’s lineup.

If the current version of Powell is the one that shows up come playoff time, the Toronto Raptors have as good a chance as anybody to come out of the Eastern Conference.

Might he regress? Sure, there’s always that chance, though, something feels different this time around. But if he should return to the inconsistent form that’s plagued him for most of his career, Powell will still have solid value on the trade market this offseason. Right now, $11 million per year for his services is, in my opinion, a bargain.

While anything is possible, I don’t see trading Powell as a step in the right direction, as far as winning a title goes. Not unless the return is something notable.

And I’m sorry, but Robert Covington isn’t notable.

What do you think the Raptors should do with Norman Powell?

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