Toronto Raptors: Should the Raptors trade Norman Powell to create more cap space in 2021?

Can the Toronto Raptors trade someone else on the team?

They can get a lot for Kyle Lowry in return. But despite that, Lowry is the heart and soul of this franchise.

You do not trade a guy like that. Despite that Lowry is 34 years old, his 2019-20 stats of 19.4 PPG, five RPG, and 7.5 APG proves that he can still contribute to this team on a high level.

Plus, he is a free agent in 2021, so there is no point in trading him because he will most likely come back to the team.

Toronto signed Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet to a long-term deal. So, there is no point to trade either of them because they can build the team around these two players with or without a top free agent.

Everyone else on the team is a free agent in 2021, so there is no point in trading any of those players.

The only player that it makes sense to trade besides Norman Powell, is OG Anunoby and that depends on if he gets a contract extension. If he does not get an extension, then there is no point to trade him because he will be a free agent in 2021.

If he does get an extension, then the Raptors would have to wait until the offseason to create more cap space.

So, should the Raptors trade Powell?

No, they should not trade Norman Powell because he is an important piece to this Raptors team that can still make it to the playoffs this season.

The 26-year-old shooting guard from UCLA is still getting better. They should wait until next season on whether to keep Powell or not, so they could see how well he plays this season.

If he plays well, try your best to keep him. Convince to wait until Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision, the negotiate a deal with Powell.

If he does not play well, then let him walk or trade him to another team.

Powell has not asked for a trade right now nor there are not any rumors that Toronto wants to trade him at least not yet. But this is what Toronto has to deal with eventually.

Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster and the rest of the Raptors’ front office staff look like they are really counting on someone like Antetokounmpo to sign with the team. But they should their options open just in case Antetokounmpo doesn’t want to sign with Toronto like keeping OG Anunoby and Norman Powell.